
Class ___CwjL9' 

Book_u^?Ji^. 
Copyright N° 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



iENECA FALLS 
NEW YORK 



K 



"GRIP'S" 

Historical Souvenir of Seneca palls, N-V. 



\ 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 

Two CoDies Received 
APR 12 1904 

OoDyrleht Entry 
CLASS a. xxe. No. 

tH- -^ -r o 

COPY B 






HlSTORICRb S0UVE^1IR SERIES ^lo. 17 



SE^lECflpAbLIS,]^.Y.,L^'i'VICIf4ITV 



Ci>pyrij?litfd. 
"Grip", 109 Corniafr Ave.. Syracuse, X. Y. 



[lUUUSTRATED] 




PriidLii. PliMtij 



PARK AND SOLPT 
First Warii Scliool. 



.DESCRIPTION OF.^;ENpCA FALLS 



SKXKCA ,l''.\l.l.S.^a_,villrig(;.of.6,.soo populntinii, 
nt Hjfautifujt Jiiitiie^r moeleCn lami substantial 
-1)us'ii1(*i?s- f)lnf1<:!' "(IpfrfjliVfulIy sliaSecI streets, is the 
largest village in Seneca Cduntv. Located on a 
plateau considerably hifjher than Cayuga lake 
(which is but two miles east), cut by natural ravines 
trending to the Seneca river which Hows through the 
\illage and divides it into two almost equal parts — 
the village possesses advantages in natural drainage 
which the citizens have availed themselves of for 
sewerage: and the place is therefore healthful. 
I'.ight miles to the west is Seneca lake and iS miles 
north Lake Ontario. 

Two competing railroads insure shippers reason- 
able freight rates, the Auburn division of the New 
York Central over which the distance to Syracuse is 
^o miles and to Rochester 60 miles, and a spur of 
the Lehigh \'alley railroad connecting with the 
main line of that system in this state at Cieneva, 
ten miles west. Its terminus is now in Seneca 
I'alls, but as this article is being written plans are 



ERS' MONTMENT. 

Mynderse Aeadem.v. 

under wav to continue the construction ol the line 
on to .Vuhurn, il) miles east, theme beyond to 
Syracuse. 

Two express companies, the .Vmerican and the 
I'nited .States, and the two telegraph companies, the 
Western Union and Postal, aflord all of the facilities 
for express and telegraphy that any interior com- 
munity possesses. There are three well conducted 
hotels. 

.\ trolley line connects this village with Waterloo 
andCieneva, and before this work is published it will 
be continuous on he\-ond CirncN a to Rochester, the 
road being now nearlv completed. The gap between 
Seneca Kails and .-\uburn, from which latter place 
trolley cars are running intfi Syracuse, is to be occu- 
pied in the course of another year. .\ trolley to the 
towns in the south end of the county, connecting 
Seneca Kails with Ithaca is also projected. 

On the shore of Cayuga lake, connected with 
Seneca I'alls by trolley, is an attr.active resort where 
there are manv summer homes as well as places 
for public amusement. Cayuga lake offers the 
best hshing, principally bass and pickerel, many 
of large size being caught e\-erv vear. 



•r.klP'S' lllSlOKlL'Al. SOLX'LMU OF SKXKCA I- ALLS. 



^ 



The social and ediuational advantages of Seneca 
Falls are not in the least inferior to any inland vil- 
lage and are in fact superior to many. There is a 
public school system which ranks high, comprising 
an academy, the far-famed Mynderse, and three 
graded schools, managed by a board of edvication 
consisting of men selected for their ability, and und' 
the tutorship of a carefuUv chosen, able faculty; an 
iliere is also a high grade boarding school for boy 
Rumsey Hall, conducted by a lady eminently htted 
to give the bovs who are received in her school the 
best advantages. The large Catholic parish sup- 
ports a parochial school of eminent standing which 
is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph. 

Society in Seneca Falls surrounds the home life of 
the village with an atmosphere of culture and refine- 
ment, its encompassing lines drawing into mutual 



Three banking institutions provide an abundance 
of capital, loaned and invested in aconservative way, 
giving to the business man ample banking facilities, 
and the small savings a safe place of deposit. They 
are the Exchange National and the .Stjite U.-nik nf 
Seneca Falls, and the Seneca Falls Savings I'laiik. 

ere are two old and well eslablishi'd weekly 
pers, the Seneca Countv C'ourirr-.hairnal am! 
neca F'alls Reveille, both edited .lud pulilislied 
whose social and business relations with tlie 
nnnunitv inspire them to support such public me\'is" 
ures as will best advance and maintain the interests 
of the village. These papers have a wide circulatii>n 
through Seneca and adjacent counties and wield an 
influence that onlv the long established and largelv 
read newspapers of the countrv connnand. 

The village is governed by a president and a bo.ird 





Pruden, Photo. FALL STREET, NORTH SIDE, LOOKING WEST FROM CAVIIGA STREET. 



companionship the people of the community as they 
naturally gravitate towards the several circles into 
which a large community resolves itself. 

Nearly every fraternity is represented by a large 
and prosperous lodge or chapter, extending a wel- 
come to the members of their respecti\"e orders, from 
whatever section they may come, who bringsufficient 
credentials of their good standing in the order. 

The community is favored by church influences as 
broad and Christian like as the doctrines they pro- 
fess. The clergy are liberal minded and intelligent 
and earnest in their efforts to uplift the morals of the 
community. There are seven well constructed.spacious 
houses of worship, some of them very tasteful and im- 
posing architecturallv. They are of denominations, 
Fpiscopalian, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Meth- 
odist, Catholic, Baptist and Wesleyan Methodist. 



of eight trustees. The natural advantages for 
macadamized streets and for surface drainage has 
delaved the construction of pavements and sewers, 
without unfavorably affecting the health of the 
community or its convenience. But these inipro\e- 
mentsare prfjjected and will undoubtedlvcome ni tlu- 
near future. 

Real estate in which Seneca Falls has always dis- 
played an enterprising activity is generally in good 
demand. During the past fourteen months more 
than a score of dwellings have been constructed, and 
are generally paying" good rentals. At the present 
writing new business blocks are approaching com- 
pletion. The main business street is well built, of 
new and with some imposing structures. .\t the 
same time business is overflowing into lateral .avenues, 
and stores are being opened in some of the residental 



■'GRIPS' IIISTORICAI. SOL \'1-.MR OF SENECA FALLS. 



quarters of the town convenient to the homes. 

The retail trade of Seneca ['"alls includes no small 
part of a prosperous farming community encircling 
the village, in some directions to a distance of eight 
(ir ten miles. Large and small tradesmen, depart- 
ment stores and emporiums, all get their share of a 
prolitable trade and as shown by the reports of the 
banks and the reporting agencies are most of them 
in good fmancial condition. A conservative estimate 
bv one familiar with conditions of trade fi.Kes the 
volume of retail business in Seneca Falls annually 
over a million of dollars. The products of the sur- 
rounding <'ountry most largely brought to Seneca 
Falls lor shipment consist of grain, apples jiotatoes, 
ha\ and vegetables. 

'I'liis village, the homo of the rotary steam lire 
rnginr .-md its iimntor Holly of Hollv water svstem 



through the center of the village, and descends by a 
series of falls at least forty feet within the village 
limits. Three principal falls afford as many levels 
with adequate constructicm of raceways for a great 
amount of water power. The Cayuga and Seneca 
canal also passes through the village affording water 
shipments east iuto the Erie canal and west into 
.Seneca lake. 

What Seneca Falls has more reason to feel proud 
of are its large manufacturing plants which run the 
year around and give employment to i50opet)ple,men 
women and youth, a great deal of which is skilled, 
labor. Good authority fixes the amount of weekly 
wages paid to the residents of the village at appro.x- 
imately $20,000. This village is without question 
the largest pump manufacturing place in the world. 
While power pumps have almost wholly superceded 




riuilen, Pliiito. FALL STREET, XOKTH SIDE, LOOKING WEST FROM OVID STKEET. 



fame, is well protected from tires so far as a capable 
fire department can give it protection. The depart- 
ment, equipped with modern fire apparatus and well 
housed, is a paid department, supplemented by vol- 
unteer companies, governed by a fire board and 
operated under the direction of the chief and two 
assistants. 

The village is well lighted by arc and incandescent 
lamps and the telephone service is furnished by two 
separate companies. It has also a good water svs- 
tem. l'nlimite<l power for generating electric cur- 
rents for both trolley and lighting purposes is 
obtained cheaply by means of the river and its great 
falls. 

In this respect Seneca Falls is especially favored. 
Seneca river connecting Seneca and Cayuga lakes — 
about ten miles apart — as has been stated Hows 



hand pumps, the output here has ever continued to 
grow in volume, so that it is greater than ever. 

Pum])s of all sizes from a pitcher spout for indi- 
vidual use to the inmiense triplex pump used in 
mines, ele\'ators, water works and power stations, 
also fire boat pumps, are manufactured by the Goulds 
Manufacturing Co., Rumsey Manufacturing Co. and 
the .\merican Fire Engine Co., the Goulds being the 
largest single institution of its kind in this country. 

The Goulds works consist of two, large, separate 
groups of buildings known as No. i and No. 2. The 
pumps are shipped all over the world and in large 
numbers to the great mining regions. This institu- 
tion also manufactures sprinklers and fire extin- 
guishers, large and small. This company employs 
about 500 operatives, the greater number being 
skilled mechanics. 



■•CiRIPS- HlSrOKlCAl, SOUVKXIK OF SKNFCA lAI.I.S. 



The American Fire F.ngine company, the mosj 
extensive steam lire engine works in the country is 
located here. They manufacture several kinds of 
steam fire engines, the Metropolitan being the prin- 
cipal hre engine they are now building. 

The Seneca F'alls Manufacturing Co. turns .}ut 
foot and power latlies; the Seneca Woolen Mills, 
woolen cloths; the Climax Specialty Co., liicycle 
p.irts and ion; iinvelties; the National .\dvertising 
l"o. and the Westcott Jewell Co., wooden novelties; 
II. W. Knight and A. W. Brim, separate establish- 
ments, metal letters and numerals; the Cileason, 
Hailev, Sciple Co. elbows and "T's" for gas and 
steam fitting. The village has three (lour and feed 
grinding mills. 

Old Town of Junius.— ^Ily Diednch Willers.j 
in the vear lyqo, a large tract of land .'icquircd i)v 



.lunious of 60,000 acres and the Skoiyase Reservation 
of boo acres at Waterloo with about 7,500 acres in 
addition south of Seneca river. In 1829, Marc-h 2(1, 
the legislature divided Junius into four towns, Seneca 
I'alls, Waterloo, Tyre and Junius as now' constituted. 
Spa fiord's Ciazetteer of New York state, published 
in iSi j, from material collected a few years previous 
(before the erection of the town of Galen in 1H12) 
contains the following interesting sketch of the town 
of Junius: — "Junius, a post township of Senera 
counts", JO to 35 miles iKM'tli of ( )\ id ami iSj miles 
northwest from .\lbany on the great road toNi.igara, 
is bounded north bv the town of Wolcott; east by 
Cavuga lake and the Seneca river and the town of 
Cato: south by the Seneca lake and river and a part 
of l*avette; west bv the countv of Ontario, (ialen 
post olTice is also in this town (at Cialen Salt works]. 
The town is about fifteen miles long, north and south, 
and abiiut twelve miles wide. The face of the coun- 




Prudeii, riK.t. 



K.\ I.L STEEET, SOUTH SIDE, LOOKING WEST FROM OVID STKEET. 



t:eatv with the Cayuga and Onondaga Indian tribes, 
was surveved and laid out into tw^enty-eiglit town- 
ships call d the Military Tract [See "Military Tract" 
elsewhere in this workj. It was not until Feb. i::, 
iSoj, that Junius was erected as a town from the 
niilitarv township of Romulus and included all of 
the territory of Fayette lying north of the present 
boundaries of Fayette and extending to l.ake Ontario. 
This territory of old Junius embraced the four north 
towns of this county with the present towns of Galen 
and Savannah, Wolcott, Butler, Rose and Huron in 
Wayne county. This large territorial area of the 
town of Junius comprised about 2 10,000 acres of land. 
In the vear 1812, Feb. 14, the legislature set off from 
luijius and organized the town of Galen and reduced 
Junius to the territory comprising the four north 
towns of this county— the old military township of 



try level and soil good and well watered. I'lie inh.ilii- 
tants are mostly emigrants from the eastern states 
;ind New Jersev. There are S"veiity-one looms in 
families which [jroduce annually 20,274 yards nf 
cloth. There are some indications ol irnn ore and 
several salt springs have been found mi tin- banks of 
the Seneca river. .\ manufactory of salt in this town 
vields a daily average of 130 bushels and an enlarge- 
ment of the works is contemplated. Junius contains 
one merchant mill, two grain mills, live or six saw 
mills, .-I fulling mill, two distilleries and two carding 
machines and enjoys very good advantages for the 
erection of extensive water works of e\"ery description. 
The village of West Cayuga, situated on the west 
bank of the Cayuga lake about two miles above the 
outlet, is a pleasant place with sixteen or seventeen 
houses and stores, formerly connected with Cayuga 
by the Cayuga bridge of one mile in lengtli. The 
ferry is revived and w^ell regulated. Seneca village, 



■'CKii'S' iiisroKiCAi. s()r\'i-.NiR or sknkca falls. 



;it tlie falls of the Seneca river, is fast improving and 
must become a brisk trading place as the country 
populates. Here is a carrying place and Mynderse's 
mills with fifteen houses. Junius is happily circum- 
stanced in regard to boatable waters. 'Ihe Seneca 
turnpike runs through the town and other public 
roads traverse it in various directions. There are a 
i-onipetent number of common school houses and 
schools, two congregations of Presbyterians and one 
of Baptists but no houses for public worship have yet 
been erected. In 1810 the population was 2,231 and 
the number of voters authorized to vote for state 
senators was 177. The outlet of Canandaigua lake 
crosses this town eastward." 

The comparisons in this sketch of West Cayuga — 
the village at the east end of Cayuga bridge —with 
the village of Seneca Falls, showing the hrst ime in 
the lead, reads very strangelv now as do also the 
n'Vrciirrs til salt springs wbii h the Indians foimd 



flowing currents of the old Eagle at Waterloo and 
of the Globe at Seneca Falls met and were ever at 
high tide of social and convivial life. 

In its strong, sturdy and able men. The Kingdom 
had much to commend it. Those who fcjstered it 
believed in its future, believed that it was destined 
to be the center of the legal and court business of the 
countv. They mapped out portions of it into city 
lots and awaited confidently its growth. But the 
revolutions that soon followed in industrial and 
manufacturing conditions, the destruction of the 
Great Western Distillery in 1H46 and the introduc- 
tion of travel by steam, all forced The Kingdom to 
give wav to other pomts of trad? and business. 

The growth of the place fell under three periods. 
\ow and then a trapper or venturous explorer would 
row his canoe up the river, but the first travel through 
the section of any importance was after the construc- 
tion of the Cavug.i Lake bridge and the organization 




Pr-u(ti'n. Pboti 



F.Vl.l, STREET, LOUKING EAST FKOM MYNDEKSE STREET. 



nr.ir the Free bridge and betweiMi there and Monte- 
zuma or Savannah and probably include the locality 
of manufactLue referred to. 

The Kingdom. — [By Harrison Chamberlain] — 
1 his liitl' I i. I mlrt, boastful and pretentious in the early 
years ol the past century, was located about two 
miles west of our village. Its christening is wrapped 
in mystery, some claiming that it was so called after 
a man named King, who built a dam in the outlet or 
in an adjoining creek and hence from King's dam 
the place came to be called "The Kingdom". This 
is a happy, ingenious theory but unfortunately lacks 
the evidence to sustain it. Others explain that it 
was so called in very much the same way that Devil's 
Half-Acre and Whiskey Hill had received theirs, 
purely out of jest and in view of well known customs 
and habits. There is no doubt of the fact that the 
Kingdom was a jolly, happy place, where the out- 



of the stage coach line. Hence the stage coach pe. iod 
came first, from 1800 to 1815, when this method of 
travel and means of development had no rival. 
Lewis Birdsall settled here and in 1808 built the 
brick house now occupied by James Lawrence. It 
was said to be the first brick house in the county: 
that the sand and clay of which the brick were made 
were taken out of the lot and the kilns or pits in 
which the brick were burnt may still be seen. Just 
west lived John Kno.\ and John Burton, well known 
in our history. These men held high positions in the 
county and state. They were able and brilliant and 
of their wit and humor many e.xcellent stories are 
told todav. W'est of the tavern. Col. Jacob Chamber- 
lain lived. He came into this section with teams of 
oxen, transporting over the long bridge heavy pieces 
of cannon, and was so pleased with the country that 
he took up some two hundred acres of land and 
actiyelv identified himself with the place. On the 
south side of the river there was a settlement, though 
very small and scattering. The place known today 



-cijU's' iiisioRiCAi- ,s()r\'i;\iR oi- SKXiaw lAi.i.s. 



■IS the Sweet place was owned by Thomas and Frank 
Cut. Later on the Carrs sold to Mathew Sisson and 
then rem)ved to Seneca Falls, where Thomas Carr 
was fur vcars the owner and manager of the Carr 
hotel, occupying the site of the present Hoag house. 
West of the Carr property were the homes of S. Dini- 
mick, John Babcock, John Perry and others. These 
men had taken up the land immediately south of the 
river and thriftv and industrious in their habits they 
had already developed fine farms with large clear- 
ings for raising wheat, oats, rye and corn. 

The second period came down to 1840. During it 
the growth on the north side was large. Many new 
residents had come in, the Lawrences. Reamers, Hers, 
1' itts, Harrises, Scotts, Whitmores, Pease, Denistons 
and others, and some of these people continued to 
live there down to a time that 1 can well remember. 
I particularly recall Thomas R. Lawrence, who came 
10 The Kingdom from Long Island and bought the 
llirdsall li'UiM- Hi' was a man well cultured ;md 



line, far more comfortable and expeditious than the 
Sherwood stage became the popular mode of travel. 
At the lock Stephen Smith built a house and grocery 
and large barns for the acconvmodalion of the boat- 
men, and his snn, Reuben Smith, buiU .a Imuse ne.\t 
to him. .lohn I'alicock |»Lit np a gi'isl null, plaster 
and clover mill and adjoining was a yard for build- 
ing boats. Deacon .Ttihn !■ itts, who was now' land- 
lord of the tavern, with a .Mr. (iilbert, erected a wool 
carding and cloth factor\'. Matthew Sisson was 
operating a brewery and malt-house and supplying 
all the countrv about with beer. The effect of these 
industries was immediate in attracting both people 
and capital. The population about the locks doubled 
manv times. There were the Jolleys, Colwells, .\lle- 
mans, Warners and many other new comers. It was 
towards the close of this period, or late in the year 
1S31, when my father. .lacob P: Chamberlain, moved 
down from \'arick and settled on the Diuunick farm 
immediatelv south of the river liridge. He rpmaine I 




Pruden, Photo. KALI, STKEET, SOUTH SIDE, L 

informed, of stately bearing and always dressed 
nratlv in black. He was \'er\' fond of fishing and on 
pleasant days it was his habit of coming to the river 
bridge with his pule and line. 

The important additions, during this period, on 
the north side, were the building of a saw mill and 
turning shop, a cooper shop and grist mill. This was 
made possible by changes in the navigtion of the 
river. A lock had been constructed with a fall of 
4 to 3 feet of water. On the berm side a strip of 
land had been extended up the river, thus dividing 
the canal from the river and creating hydraulic sites 
that gave a stimulus to the investment of capital in 
manufacturing enterprises. On the south side of the 
river, about the locks, the effect was even more 
marked. The free navigation of the river, opening a 
water carriage all alcmg eastward to tide water was 
an era in the development of this section. Boats 
were built for freight and passengers. The packet 



lOOKINC WEST FROM OPI'l )S1TE THE PlISTtlFFICE. 

here till the year 1843 when he bought the hiwcr 
Mynderse mills and moved to Seneca Falls. 

The third period, from 1840, was notabh- for tin- 
construction of the Great Western Distillery. If 1 
should describe to you its size, the ground it covered 
and the number of bushels of wheat, rye. oats and 
corn consumed daily you would admit that even in 
comparison with our great enterprise's of today it 
would stand out in grand proportions. .A.t that day 
it was simply a wonder and there was nothing like it. 
Its original promoters were Col. Jacob Chamberlain, 
Picknev, Lee and Dodge. It was erected in 1841, 
after the most approved plans. The large boilers 
were made of copper and also the large pumps, used 
for supplying the fermenting vats and for conducting 
the spirits. The cost of such appliances, when you 
consider the value of the material may be readily 
imagined. In fact to install this plant and put it 
into operation, the expenditure ran so high that it 



"c;ru'S' iiisroiJiCAi. sor\"i.MK of sknp.ca fai.i.s. 




tlif rarlv home of Joseph 
Smitli, tlif [outiilcr n! Mor- 
nidiiisni, ;ind \\ as wlicrc he 
lirst prciimilgatfcl his "in- 
spired doitriiiis" .ind "iii- 
Ifrprrtpd" the "d i \ i II I' 
w nrd" from the j^ohii il 
phtU-s whirli n<il)ini\ exer 
saw. Just east iif the 
lavfrn and adjoining llir 
KeanuT blacksmith shop, 
there stood in the lifties 
a smalt stor\' and a half 
house. I re neniber it \erv 
well, and can recall tlie 
fact that the neighbors 
spoke of it as the house 
where Joseph Smith, the 
founder of Mormonisin, 
li\ed for a while in the 
f,dl of iSj .;. .\ niore com- 
plete description of Smith 
is giv^n elsewhere. 

Military Tract.— 1 he 



I'liiden. rim(o. 

siwi't; !<TKi:i;'r, i,,\wns ox tiii; WEtsT sini-;, i.dukinc .•^im th Nt:.M! 

I'OinKK STUKET. 



\\ ;is joimd iii'rissai\ to hring mto tfie scheme Ihomas 
• ind l.i\ i lal/iuf^rr aiul Joseph Wriglit of Waterhio. 
It was the crowning business, ellort carr\ ing the, 
plai e, during the hirties, to its height of prosperitw 
M;in\ new families liad (ome here. These were the 
I iopkins, Conkeys .and others. The tavern had 
growai; it had become in a tru<' smse a hotel with 
lirsl-dass acciimmodations, ,and its landlord, deorge 
Kmiey, had construi'ted a half mile race course, not 
e\celletl in Central New ^'(trk. 

Within a stone's throw of the ta\crn was thi' liiiihl- 
ing used h>r a school during the week ami on Sunday 
afternt)ons h»r sacred ser\'ice. The plan of thrashing 
ideas into obstinate and did! brains at that time was 
r.-ither hard u|)on the scholar, vet uimderfullv suc- 



essful. I want to introduc 
in this school for a term, 
luit even in intimation 
that the birch played a 
greater part than the text 
book, but for the f.iet that 

\meiia [enks, afterwards 
Mrs. Bloomer, coTme( tid 

I'he Kingdom with one of 
the great i)rogressive and 
social mo\Tments of the 
century. Si>on by contri- 
butions of her jjen she 
came to be known far and 
wide as a strong thinker 
on questions of dress, social 

and temiaerance reforms. 
Sh<t was acti\e in the 
Washingtonian 'i'eniper- 
anre movement in 1840: 
and later on with I.ucretia 
.\Iott and Klizabeth Cad\ 
Stanton and Susan 11. 
.^nthijny in securing the 
modihcations in the law 
by which woman was 
gi\'en in lier own right ,'i 
legal standing. 

The Kingdom was also 



to \', 



>lle w h< I t.iugilt 



leglshltme l)\ the a( t of 

luly J3, 1782, created tlie 
( lldMililary Tract as it was 
called. It (oiit.Miied I ,.Soo,ooo acres and included the 
present eou[ilii-s of (')n(nidaga, Cortland. Ca\ uga, 
Tompkins anil Seneca (except a strip across the 
southern end of Cortland county, west from the 
Tioughnioga rixer, .about a mile and a li.'ilf wide), 
■and all of Wayne 1 c>unt\ east of (.ireat Sodus Hav 
and Oswego couiit\ west of the Oswego river. 

In tliis tract there were 2X townships, called ".Mili- 
tay towns" to distinguish them from the towns .ifter- 
w.ards created in erecting the counties enclosing them. 

In lyHf) the legislaturecreated a new military tract, 
7(18,000 acres in llie counties of Clinton, Kranklln 
and ICsse.x whictt was laid out in tweKe towns, 
bringing the total iiundier up to ho. Each was lai<l 
out as nearly square as practical, averaging about 
itff miles square and containing each 100 lots of fioo 
acres to llie lot or .1 total of l.o.oc oacres. TI.e towns 




Pnidcii, Photo. 

STATE .'iTitEirr r, 



.AWNS. ON THE WEST SIDE, LOOKI N(i JNOltTH 
NEAR CHAPEL STREET. 



■•(;kii''s" nl-^l( iRicAi. s()r\i-;Mi; oi si-.nia \ iai.i.s. 




KAI.I. STHEKT. LAWNr^ 



UN THE NOK'I'H sn 
LOOKING HAST. 



nanirs 



ill iA 

• WiiLlId 

re llu'\- 



wirr luiinljcrril and ^ixt'ii (.lasslcal 
wliicli ha\T been retained (as far as the 
Rii) in the re-omstituted towns. Except 
c nincided with county lines, none ii[ llie orij^inal 
boundaries were preserved, eacli "niiUtarN " town 
supplying territory for two or three re-firjjanized 
towns. The onlv "militarv" town oxerlaiipinij a 
rountv line is that of Sterling wliicli nuitributed 
Icrritorv for both Wayne and Cayuga couMtios 1 h • 
niiinhering of the towns began with l.S'saniler (in 
Onondaga county) near the north-east corner of that 
tract (the second "military" town south of Lake 
Ontario) and was carried south going from east to 

west. 

The tnwiis, plac{.-d in the ortler in which tliiw were 
numbered, together with the counties whicli have 
sMice absorbed them, are as 
lollows: No,.i, Lvsander, 
Onondaga; .;, Hannibal, 
Oswego; 3, Cato, Cayuga; 
.\, Brutus, Cayuga; 3, 
Camillus, Onondaga; d. 
Cicero, Onondaga; 7,.\lan- 
lins, Onondaga; 8, .\ure- 
lius, Cayuga; cj, .Martellus, 
Onon<laga; lo, Pomf)ev, 
Onondaga; u, Romulus, 
Seneca; 12, Scipio, Cayuga; 
I ^ Sempronit)us, Cavuga; 
14, luUy, Onondaga; ij, 
labius, Onondaga; 16, 
Ovid, Seneca; 17, Milton, 
Cayuga; 18, I^ocke, 
Cayuga; 19, Homer, Cort- 
land; 20, Solon, Cortland; 
21, Hector, Schuvler; 22, 
rivsses, Tompkins; 2^, 
Dryden, Tomijkins; 24, 
\'irgil, Cortland; 23, Cin- 
cinnatus, Cortland; 2<i. 
Junius, Seneca; 27, Cialen, 
Wayne; 28,Sterling,W.ivne 
and Cayuga. 



The Federal goxernmcnt 
having iiflered hmiK In 
the west to the soldiers of 
the revolution, the state 
laid out the niilitarv tracts 
to keep as manv here as 
pnssibli-, nffering a bonus 
i>f 100 ;i< res to pi'uates 
who would rrlin(]uish tliei 1 
wi stern rhunis ;iud a(ce])l 
this oiler of In, acres of 
land in this state before 
July 1, 1790. The state 
reserved in each town two 
lots for scli..o|s, tw.i for 
' liurches ;Mid two lo be 
distrd)uted among cdin- 
missioned oOuers. The 
allotment of lands was to 
be ni.'tde b)' drawing. 

In default of a settlement 
on eai'h 600 acres within 
seven years the land was tn 
revert to the state. Kifty 
acres of each lot called the 
"sur\ev tiftv" was subject 
to the iharge of fortv-eighl shillings (§6.00) to pay 
for surveying, and if that were not paid in two years 
tlie "survev hfty" was to l)e sold. Compliance with 
these two Tuain condit)(.ms gjive the patentee full 
title to the whole 6oo acres. 

The distribution of lots occurreil July 3, 1790, under 
the direction of the governor, lieuten;int-governor 
and foiu state ollicers. The names of the claimants 
of the land were placed on ballots in one bo.\ and 
numbers correspmiding to the allotments were ])laced 
on l).'dlots in another bo.\. The ])erson appointed by 
the commissioners hrst drew the ballot containing a 
name and then the ballot containing the number of 
the lot; in which manner each claimant's allotment 
was dete'niined. 



)E, NEAR fl'ri'.ll liltllPGi;, 




Prudeu, Piiolu. 

CAYUGA STUEKT, XE.Vll I'llOSl'ECT STUEET— LAWNS ON THE WE.ST 
SIDE, LoOKfNG NORTH. 



■GRIPS" HISTORICAI. SOUVENIR OF SENECA EAI.LS. 



Jesuit Missions; their IVginning Anjong the 
Savages of Central New York; the Adventures 
nf the Freneli Priests who Attempted to Chris- 
tianize the Indians:-— 
On Sundav Sept. u, it>53, there was held a great 
rouneil between the French and the Iroquois Indians 
at Ouebec. Monsieur de I.auson was the French 
governor who claimed for France all of the territory 
now comprising Central and Western New York. 
Eighteen Indian chiefs from the Onondagas, Oneidas, 
Cavugas and Senecas (whifh with the Mohawks 
were known by the French as the Iroquois and by 
the English as the hve nations) had come to Ouebec 
to give assurance that after two years of war with 
the French, those four nations w-ere peaceably 
inclined. The .Mohawks had refused to join in 



the "black robes" should bring these Indians with 
them, and in fact began their address to the French 
governor by directing their remarks to them. 

"You have wept too much," the Iroquois chief 
said, addressing the converted savages who sat about 
him. "It is time to wipe away the tears shed so 
plentifullv bv vou over the death of those whom you 
have lost in war." This was a subtle reminder of 
the power of the speaker's nation and the helpless- 
ness of those w-hom he addressed: a sort of hint as to 
what the latter might expect were they to oppose 
the plan which the Iroquois ambassadors had come to 
present to their protectors. This cunning speech he 
followed with a proffer of peace — "Here is a hand- 
kerchief," said the wily chief, "to wipe away those 
tears." The handkerchief was the hrst present they 
offered these poor tribes the}' had so cruelly sacrificed. 
It was followed bv seven other presents — to wipe out 




I'riideu, Photo. 

N. Y. C. Station. 
Lehigh Valley Station. 



RAILWAY STATIONS AND LANDMARKS. 

Ovid Street, looking Nortli from Bayard Street, (oldest building in town.) 
Bayard Street, looking West from Ovid Street, (old engine litiuse.) 



proffers of peace. These savages were gathered at 
the council with the request that the French should 
send to their country "the black robes" [Jesuit priests] 
and bring them their Huron and .\lgonquin converts 
— two northern tribes which the Iroquois had con- 
quered and had been fully determined to exterminate. 
The custom of the Iroquois was often to incorpora:e 
into their own tribes those which they had defeated. 
Parkman attributes their strange request in this 
instance to their desire to get the .\lgonquins and 
Hurons in their power and massacre them. These 
tw^) unfortunate nations were the first to profit by 
the Jesuit teachings and had become accustomed to 
looking to the priests and their soldiers for protec- 
tion from the Iroquois which the former were unable 
to give. 

.At this council the Iroquois chiefs demanded that 



the blo<id of those nations, to take away all thoughts 
of war, to wrest from their hands hatchets, bows and 
arrows, to expel from their hearts bitterness, to open 
their ears to words of peace, to give assurance that 
the Iroquois were peacefully inclined. 

Having paid his respects to the Indian wards of the 
French this Iroquois statesman turned his attention 
to the latter, to whom he presented J2 presents. One 
among them was to accompany a request for the 
Jesuit fathers to teach their children and bring with 
them their Huron and .Mgonquin converts. 

The French distrusted these professions — and witli 
good reason — but it was decided that to win all the\" 
nmst venture all, so just seven days later the Iroquois 
ambassadors set out upon their return accompanied 
bv two of the bravest and most unselfish of these 



•■f.KlPS' HlSroRICAI. SOUVKNIk Ol- SKNKCA lAl.l.S. 



good missionaries. Fathers Joseph Chaumonot and 
Claude Dablon. 

Theirs was the \erv lirst of Jesuit prayers and 
ollic-es offered up midst the dark and distant recesses 
of a countrv infested bv a treacherous people, such as 
were then the Onondagas and their sister nations on 
the west the Cayugas and Senecas. 

It was on Sept. 19, ifijj. that the party in canoes 
began the ascent of the St. Lawrence river, .\fter 
meeting with many adventures in which their lives 
were often in danger, they, on Oct. 26, entered Lake 
Ontario and on the 29th reached the mouth of the 
Salmon river. On Nov. i they started overland, fol- 
lowing the Indian trail to the Oneida river which 
they reached on the 3d. near Oneida lake. Thence 
thev proceeded southeast to the main villages of the 
Clnondagas called by them Onontague [near Man- 
lius] which they reached on the 5th. 

Here thev were received with roval welcome and 



that the Jesuits began to believe that "God's pro- 
vidence" had appeared "most wonderful". 

Still mistrusting the savages the French had held 
back all winter; but now they must act. A journey 
to Ouebec — a long, fearful journey through the 
wilderness in mid-winter — must be made to bring 
over the people and means for a settlement or the 
mission must be abandoned. 

Father Claude Dablon volunteered the perilous 
trip and accompanied by Jean Baptiste and other 
converted Indians the party on March 2 set out on 
foot. On reaching Oneida lake they attempted to 
cross on the ice, which they. Imally succeeded in doing 
near the west end where the distance from shore to 
shore was live miles. They stumbled along north- 
ward until they reached Salmon river. There they 
followed the shore of Ontario lake north to Hender- 
son bay which they crossed on the ice. But the 
mouth of Black river was open and they ascended 




PruUen. Photo. 

LawDS. East side, looking North. 
East side. North from Fall street. 



STATE STREET VIEWS. 

At Hoag; House, lookint? North. 
West side, lookin^r South from the railroad. 



here they spent the long winter months that ensued. 
I'hev received every token of fidelity from the four 
nations, representatives of the Oneidas, Cayugas and 
Senecas. coming hither to offer homage and invoke 
the presence of the missionaries with those nations. 
But seemingly the expectations of the Iroquois had 
not been fulfilled. They soon began to questifin why 
the French had not brought the great number of 
northern Indians with them and made a settlement. 
Late in February 1656, at a notable council, the 
Iroquois declared that at last they were tired of post- 
ponements. "If the affair were not settled now," 
they said, "it would be needless to think any more 
about it, for they would break with us [the French] 
entirely." They even declared that they were 
"believers," and so effective were their protestations 



that stream three miles before they found it ice-bound 
where they were able to effect a crossing. Then they 
returned to the lake and finally ventured to pursue 
their course on the ice which they found they could 
do by not getting more than three leagues from land. 
Nine days they had been traveling mostly in rain 
storms which had come with the approach of spring. 
For eight days they traveled on the ice of the lake 
and St. Lawrence river. On March 30 they reached 
Montreal and safety. 

,'\fter hardships too severe to be portrayed one of 
the brave Jesuits had got back to his friends. But 
he was vet to encounter greater perils. He must 
return with recruits for the new mission. What then! 
The Iroquois were sworn enemies of the French and 
yet thev had begged them to settle among them. 
Until Dablon 's return there were mi.'stery and appro- 




Pruden, Photo. PRETTY RESIDENTIAL STREETS. 

Garden. Np,-,„ siae., ,ooUin« We,,. ^,Zfe%'o^tXt^VrlTl^^^^^^^^^ 



Walnut, West side, looking Scmtl 



Bayard, West from Miiinf* 
East llayard, South side, ioi 



■d 
kini! 



•et. 
East. 



Bayard. East fi-om ovid Mreet. 
(Ivid, East side, lookins? Soutli. 



•■C.KU'S- HISTORICAL SOUX'KNIK ()!• SKXKCA I'AI.I.S. 



>3 



liension at Quebec regarding the two Jesuits buried 
in the midst of hostile pagans hundreds of miles 
inland, which their superiors at Quebec hoping for 
tile best must wait to solve. At last Dablon nearly 
dead from hunger and exposure totters in among 
them and they must decide at once to send more 
brave men perhaps to a horrible death, or abandon 
the brave Chaumnnot to a terrible fate. 

But the die is cast and as soon as plans can be 
elTected Father Dablon must return to his lonely 
companion at Onondaga bringing with him Fathers 
Francois le Mercier, Rene Menard and Jacques 
I'remlin with two Jesuit lay brothers and lifty 
I'rinchmen attending. 

They left Quebec May 17, 1636, returning by the 
usual route "as far as Salmon river. There they 
were laid up three days waiting for food which tliey 
had sent to the Ommdagas to procure, and fmally in 
,-i famishing condition took their departure by water 
for Oswego so as to follow that river. This is what 
gave to the Salmon ri\er the name la Famine — a 
place of famine. 

That was the beginning of a series of trials which 
overtook the founders of the first mission among the 
Onondagas and terminated in disaster by which they 
narrowlv escaped destruction. Not strong enough the 
to follow the trail and keeping to the water, party, 
ascending Oswego river, reached Onondaga lake 
July II, 1656. "On an eminence commanding the 
lake and all surrounding places", is the most delinite 
manner in which they describe where the mission 
was located. Hut liistorians are agreed that it was 
near Liverpool near which were an abundance ol 
fresh water springs spoken of by the Jesuits. 

Near the Jesuit chapel which they erected the 
liench soldiers put up a residence for the Jesuits 
which they named Sainte Marie of t'lannenta [the 
n;une thev gave to the lakej. This became the par- 
ent mission h)r those that were established among 
the Cavuga and Seneca Indians. 

Here in Julv, ib^Ci, was planted the seed that 
sprang forth and for a time grew. Here was the 
stem. The branches reached off among the Oneidas, 
Cayugas and Senecas. None of these missions, how- 
ever, endured anv length of time. The English 
claimed the countrv ami becoming more powerful 
than the French, secured the alliance of the savages 
who linallv drove out the Jesuits. A wierd, romantic 
e\ent was that of the desertion of the Onondaga 
mission and consequently Of the outlying missions. 
The fathers on the banks of Onondaga lake, during 
;i clear freezing night, got the Indians to partake of 
a feast, during which by means of flat boats which 
the French had constructed in the seclusion of their 
mission house, they embarked on the waters of 
Onondaga lake and paddled away. In the morning 
the Indians encam[ied nutside of the palisades, or 
pickets, which surrounded the mission houses, after 
waiting long for the inmates to appear, suddenly 
discovered they had gone. .All that greeted them 
was the crowing of a lonely cock which had been 
left behind. The priests had learned that waiting 
another dav thev would have been massacred. After 
a toilsome journey by water the fugitives reached 
Quebec, "ladened," as one of the fathers writes, "with 
some spoils wrested from the powers of Hell ■' ■■ live 
hundred children and many adults, most of whom 
died after baptism." 

Jesuit Priests, the I'irst White Men Near Seneca 

falls 111 itiV; How They Made a Futile Attempt 

to Preach the I''aith; Scenes in an Indian ^'ilIage 

on Cayuga Lake; - 

The first visit of the French Jesuit Priests to the 

Cavuga and Seneca Country was in 1656, though no 

stablished mission was made there until twelve 



vears later when Fathers Charles Gamier and 
listienne de Carheil, in Nov. 1668, located near Union 
Springs [see St. Joseph's on another page], and Father 
Jacques Fremlin the same month located near the 
town of ^T(^or. 

About the end of August, if>3f>, leathers Chaiimonot 
and Menard after two days' journey reached Oiogouen, 
the principal Cavuga village, where St.Joseph's was fin- 
ally established by Fathers Gamier and de Carheil, and 
were received with "cold welcome". They distributed 
presents which thev reported were not well received; 
but the "Elders" [chiefs] did not desire to "break with 
them" an<l so upon their request, four days after 
their arrival, built a chapel. "After having carpeted 
it with the finest mats," writes Father Menard, who 
was left in charge, "I hung up in it the picture of Our 
Lord and Our Lady. The novelty of the spectacle so 
astonished the barbarians that they came in crowds 
to gaze at it." 

The Cavugas had many slaves including prisoners 
Ihey had captured from the Hurons north of the 
Great Lakes, where the Jesuits had first made con- 
verts. Although the missionary induced many to be 
baptized, the Hurons in their superstition had 
reported that the baptizing had killed a good many 
of their nation and this aroused the suspicion and 
ill will of the Cayugas. This was because of the 
f.-ict that a majority of the baptisims were usually 
those who were at the point of death, but this the 
Indians could not understand, father .Menard for 
two months continued the mission at Oiogouen, 
living in hourly peril from the treachery and sus- 
picions of the savages. The children he soon 
succeeded in winning and they materially aided him. 
"Thev introduced me into their cabins," he writes, 
"thev waited for me at the places where 1 stopped, 
and thev told me the names of the children whom I 
liaptized as well as those of their parents. These 
names the barbarians are in the habit of carefully 
concealing from us because they think we write them 
down to send them to l-'rance and there procure their 
death by magic." 

The zealous Father won several to liaptism, his 
first adult being past 80 years of age. .Another was 
,1 maimed warrior who had unsuccessfully attempted 
to save the lives of Lirebeuf and I'.VIIemaut, the two 
Jesuits who were tortured to death by the Mohawks. 

But the priest was frequently threatened with 
death, although he was baptizing daily. At last he 
was called to Onondaga and although he later 
returned to his work, it was finally suspended. 

The Cayugas, however, like the Senecas, never 
became as firm adherents to the Jesuits as the Onon- 
dagas and the Oneidas. The Cayugas, as the priests 
said, were arrogant and the Senecas were for war. 
The Onondagas, thev declared, were their most 
faithful allies. The Mohawks they had very little 
or nothing to do with because of their determined 
hostility to the French and brutality to all from that 
nation who placed themselves in their power. 

I'ather Chaumonot, continuing across Cayuga and 
Seneca lakes, fcmnded the mission of St. Jacques at 
Ciandagan, or Gandagare (\'ictor, N. Y.]. Withie 
two or three miles was a village of Huron captivns 
where he founded the mission of St. Michael and 
divided his time preaching and laboring at the two. 
He was accompanied to this Mission by David le 
.Moine, a lav Jesuit [not the noted priest, le Moine] 
who was taken with a bloody dysentery and while 

trying to make his wav back to Onondaga, thence 
. - ^^ , ,■ , " ._ _. .1. . ,1, -„ ..fc 



the 



shore ofC .ayuga 



to Ouebec, died en route 
lake. 

It appears that Fathers Chaumonot and Menard 
were the same fall recalled from the west to preach 
among the Oneidas but then left no mission there. 



' + 



■Cliil'S" HlsrolilCAl, SOl\'KMl^ Ol- SKNECA lALLS. 



Cayuga Missions of the Jesuits: Where They 
were 1 iiiallv Established: Cayuga \'illage of 
jooo Popuhition Near the Lake. — 

About the middle of the seventeenth century there 
were located among the Cayuga Indians four Jesuit 
missions, all east of Cayuga lake. There the Jesuit 
fathers from I'rance, under the protection of the 
French C.overnor, took up their abode and attempted 
to Christianize the Cayugas; barbarians as they 
lalled them. Starting from Quebec, they ascended 
the St. Lawrence river and lake Ontario in canoes, 
siinietimes crossing the country over Indian trails 
and "at other times following the Oswego river. 
Their, paths alwavs led first to Onondaga, whence 
thev pushed west over the several trails leading :nt<i 
the countrv of the Senecas and Cayugas. 

Beginning at the earliest period of their missions 



baptized si.vty dying persons "of whom 33 died a 
holv death and are believed to have gone to Heaven." 

The northernmost of the Jesuit missions among 
the Cayugas was that of St. Rene at the Indian vil- 
lage of Onontare. It was located on the east shore 
of Seneca river. two and a half miles east of Savannah, 
X. Y. .\t this mission was a salt .'pring where the 
Cayugas drew brine and made their own salt. The 
Senecas also came here for salt. 

St. Stephen's mission was in the village of Thiohero 
which stood on the east side of Cayuga outlet, near 
the east end of the present railway bridge. 

St. Jo.^eph's mission at the Indian village of 
OiogDuen was located about three and one-half miles 
Sleuth of Llnion Springs near Cireat tmlly brook and 
about one and one-half miles from the lake. Ihis 
was the largest town and the seat of the Jesuits 




Pruden, Photo. 



WELL SHADED AVENUES. 



Chapel Street, looking West from State Street, 
ftarker Street, North side, looking East. 

with the .Mohawks, they gradually extended their 
held to each of the Five Nations further west until 
they began to come into the beautiful country of the 
Cayugas and Senecas. The beginning in this section 
was made among the Cayugas over near Union 
Springs. Father Jacques Fremlin, with his seat of 
government at Onondaga, was the superior of the 
missions among the Iroquois (''"ive Nations they 
were then called, comprising the Mohawks on the 
east, the Oneidas, Onondagas and Cayugas and 
Senecas (m the west). 

On .Nov. I, 1668, F'ather Fremlin re-established one 
of the Seneca missions, and five days later Fathers 
Garnier and de Carheil restored one of the Cayugas. 
Ten years earlier the Jesuits had been driven away. 
During the space of four months Father Fremlin 



Green Street, West side, from Wbite street. 
West Fall Street, looking East. 

among the Cayugas. It was the nearest to the 
Onondagas on the trail leading hence and here were 
received those sent out from Onondaga to establish 
the other missions among the Cayugas and Senecas. 

The Jesuit history says the village at this place in 
i()68, when F'ather de Carheil arrived, had 2000 pop- 
ulation and over 300 warriors. It is probable that 
it was the group of villages clustering about St. 
Joseph's [see Indian villages nn another page] that 
was meant. 

The fourth mission was near the village of Maple- 
tim, east of St. Joseph's. 

The First Clerk of Seneca county was Dr. Silas 
Halsev who served from .April 2, 1804, the date of his 
appointment (with the interval of one year) to some 
time in i8ig. 



(_;KI1''S" HISIOKICAL SOUVENIR VV SENECA FALLS. 




Loaned by H. C. Silshy. 

NEW YURK CENTRAL R. H VL\I)l CT. 

Recollections. — Leander Cory in i84)(aiiio to 
Seneca Kails with his father. He was then only a 
bov nine vears old. His father and family rame 
from New Jersey. The railroad vyasthen constructed 
from .\uburn to Rochester. They were intending to 
locate in Syracuse, but there were no liouses to be 
had at that time so they came by boat to Seneca 
I'alL. The Clinton House stood then where the 
Hoag House now stands. The plot of ground 
bounded bv State, I''aU and Clinttm streets was sort 
of a public common, where the circus held forth. 
Mr. Cory remembers the 
baloon ascension from this 
place by Ouincy Andrew's. 
The baloon landed near 
Corning. He remembers 
the great western distillery 
at the Kingdom and of 
running to the lire when it 
was burned. The firemen, 
he savs, broke in the heads 
of barrels of high wines 
and used their leather 
buckets for dippers, and 
general hilarity followed. 
The Waterloii Eire I!)epart- 
ment came to their assist- 
ance and in the hurry lo 
get a stream on the fire, 
■ •neof the engines being 
hacked down to the ri\er, 
got the start of the firemen 
and ran off the bank. It 
was nr)t pulled out until 
the next day. He also 
remembers an(.)ther distill- 
ery which stood just below pnuien. Photo, 
wliere the Riimse\s" shop 



now stands. There yyere at that 
time four flouring mills along the 
riyer and one of them, the .\rnett"s, 
used to turn out 300 barrels per 
dav. The canal boats brought in 
loads of wheat and carried away 
loads of tl..ur. 

.\ man by the name ni .1. C. 
Chapman kept a general ston- in the 
forties at the corner of ()\id and 
I'all streets, the only business block 
.if that time which is still standing, 
.\n hotel standing near where the 
Stantim house novy stands, w-as after- 
wards torn down and rebuilt. 

..\ Mr. Morehouse kept a cabinet 
shop on the corner of Clinton and 
Miller streets. He made furniture 
.ind caskets. 

.1. W. Dickinsnn kept a harness 
store where Mrs. Heck's music store 
IS novy located. 

The only school house besides the 
icademv, stood on the site of the 
present school building. It was a 
one-story, one room buililing, and 
the desks were arranged amund the 
room next to the wall, the center of 
the room being used for rfcitations. 
Mr. James BeIlo\ys taught the si-hool 
which Mr. Cory attended. This 
school building was afterwards 
remoyed to make way for more 
modern buildings and is now used as 
a dyyelling house on Mynderse street, 

occupied by Mrs. L. Twist. There was a feeling of 

jealousy between the academy and public school 

bovs and the commons was the scene of many a fight 

between the two factions. 

With the e.xception of the Congregational church 

there \yere as many churches as at present, but each 

one has been rebuilt or remodeled. 

Mr. Cory remembers the building of the Wesleyan 

Methodist church which was the year he came here, 

in 1843. 

Two old fashioned fire engines, Nos. 2 and 3, were 

then used for fighting the fires They were c.f the 




WHITE STREET LAWNS, EAST SIDE, LOOKING SOLTH, 



I() 



■CKll' 



IIISIOKICAI, SOr\'lLNII^ ()!■ Sl'.NF.CA FAIJ.S. 



(jld goose neck style which were afterwards replaced 
by the Button machines which were capable of 
throwing three streams each. These machines were 
then the pride of the town and figured in many of 
the tournaments of the state held at that time. 

The Ken\on Hat Store on I'all street, as remembered 
by -Mr. Cory, has been continuous in this line of 
business for over 60 years. 

There was a paper mill run by a man by the name 
of Sackett, which stood where the Cowing shops 
afterwards were. There was a cotton mill where 
cotton cloth was manufactured, standing just below 
the Cowing shops. 

Briggs & Jones ran a sash and blind faitory, and 
there was a tannery where the (iould shops are now. 
run by a Mr. Tillman, who also had a saw mill up 
the stream. There were then three saw mills in the 
village. Mr. Briggs bnilt the hrst house on the 
common. It now stands in .Mvnderse street and is 
known as the Davis propertv. 

Boundary Changes; County .nul roun-[Bv 
Diedriili Willersj. — When the countv of Seneca was 
erected .March 29, 1804, its area north and south 
extended from Lake Ontario at the north to tiie head 
of Seneca lake and about four miles south of Ithaca 
at the head of Cayuga lake — including at the south 
end the old towns of Hector and ITysses, a distance 
of about 63 miles and an average of 11 miles in 
width, east and west. At the time of the erection of 
this county it was divided into six towns, .lunius, 
Fayette, Romulus, Ovid, Hector and I'lysses. 

In iSio the town of Wolcott having been fullv 
organized as a town, was hrst represented in the 
Seneca county board of supervisors and in 1812 the 
new town of Galen was added to the number of 
Seneca county towns. 

In 1812 however, the town of Wolcott was annexed 
to Cayuga county but was re-annexed to Seneca 
county in 1817. The legislature of 1817, bv act of 
.April 17, having erected the county of Tompkins, 
the towns of Hector and I'lysses Were taken from 
Seneca county and .added to the new countv .ind tlie 
town of Covert was for .1 few vears also annexed to 
Tompkins county, but was in 1S19 re-annexed as 
a town, to Seneca county. 

The legislature of 1.S25, .\p:il 11, erected thecounl\- 
of Wayne ;uid annexed thereto the towns of Wolcott 
and Clalen. 

In 1824 the nunihc-r of towns in Seneca couiit\ 
becn'me reduced to live, Junius, Fayette, Rcunulus, 
Ovid and Covert. The town of Lodi was organized 
by the legislature January 27, 1826. In 1821) three 
additional towns were "erected by the division of 
Junius (the towns of Waterloo, Seneca I'alls and 
Tyre) and in 1830 the town of X'arick was added, 
completing the number of ten towns now existing, 
hve in tlie north district and the same nundier in the 
south district, the county now extending ^2 milts 
nortli and south. 

Civil List, i8o3-'2m: tlie Old Tcwii of Junius— 
[By Diedrich Willers.]— 

State Senators. — i8i6-'20. John Knox; 1825-25, 
Jesse Clark both of Waterloo. 

.Members of .\ssembly — i8i5-'if), Jacob I.. I.arzelere, 
Seneca Falls; 1828, .\ndrew Glover, Waterloo. 

County Judges -181 j-' 18, John Knox, i8i8-'2 5, 
John McLean, Jr., both of Waterloo; l823-'33, Luther 
F'. Stevens, Seneca Falls. 

Surrogates — i8i9-'23, Luther F. Stevens, Seneca 
Falls: i!S27-'37, Samuel Birdsall, Waterloo. 

District .Xttorneys- i8i8-'2i— Lemuel W. Ruggles; 
i82i-'3i, Jesse Clark, both of Waterloo. 

Sheriffs— 1808-' 1 3, ':5-'i7, Lewis Biidsall. Seneca 
I'alls; l8i3-'ij, Joiin \'an Tuvl, Waterloo; i8i7-"i9, 



Jacob L. I.arzelere, i825-"28, Israel W. Squires, botl 
of .Seneca Falls. 

It will be noticed that n<me of the above namet 
officials resided within the territory of the present 
town r)f Junius and none of them in the town of Tvre 

INDIAN CLASSICS OF SENECA 

Seneca County is in the heart of a legion which i^ 
hist becoming classic for its rich Indian lore ant: 
legends, history and mythology. Here, between thf 
two lakes — Seneca on the west and Cayuga on the 
east — a strip thirty-hve miles long and ten mile- 
widt -lies the gently rolling, highly cultivated 
plateaus of Seneca county, watered by stre;inis llow- 
ing east and west into the two lakes, and north intc 
Seneca river. Flxlreme cold is not the average 
temperature, owing to~Th*i4arge bodies of water on 
e.'ich side. In the summer ctioTtn^ breezes frtim tlu^ 
lakes modulate the temperature. 

In the middle of the seventeenth centurv, the 
I'rench Jesuits found the Cayugas in possession ol 
tliis countrw 

.\ century Later, about the last of the i8th, during 
which interim white man has not written of this 
land. Gen. Sullivan came in from the south and 
circum traversed it, marching up one side, across the 
top, down the other side and across the bottom. 

He found the Cayugas and Senecas diviiling the 
territory between them, the former occupying both 
shores of Cavuga lake and the latter those of Seneca 
lake. 

On the west, then, was .MN-D \-W.\-0-X(V(;( ), 
the territory of the Senecas, i. e.. big openings, large 
prairies, land of the sun. 

On the west was GWK-U-GWKH-0-XO-G.\, the 
muck lands where Hags grow out of marshes 

I he two nations of Indians came together, finally, 
in this county and here both at times planted their 
lodge poles, iished, hunted and made war. 

Mounds and curious traceriesof stones and trenches 
were found here in the beginning of white settle- 
ments. Even traces of pre-historic races. 

So Seneca County deserves all that a histi>rian ran 
do for her — and tluit to be done in writing uii the 
history of her leading town-- her metropolis. 

-\ll of which IS clearly described on the pages of 
this work. 

Supervisors of the old town of Junius, 1803- 
182^: -iSii3-,,_), Lewis Birdsall: 1805-07, '09-11, 
Col. Daniel Sayre; 1808, 1814, Jesse Southwick: icSu- 
13, '16, J.aob L. I.arzelere; i8ij, Hugh W. Dobbin; 
1.S17, John Burton; i8i8-'22. Dr. Thomas C. Magee; 
iS23-'23, Israel W. Squires; i82fi-'28, Henry Moses. 

()f this list Jesse Southwick was a resident 
in the present town of Junius, Dr. Thomas C. Magee 
in the present town of Tyre and John Burton and 
Hugh W. Dobbin in the present town of Waterloo. 
.All of the others named resided within the limits of 
the town of Seneca Falls. Him. Jacob L. I.arzelere 
served this county several terms in the state legisla- 
ture and as an .\ssociate Judge of the Court of 
Common I'leas. Lewis Birdsall, Israel W. Squires, 
Henry Moses and Jacob I.. I.arzelere served as sheriffs 
ol Seneca countv. Upon the di\'ision of the town 
of Junius by act of the legislature, .March 26, 1829, 
the towns of Seneca Falls, W'aterloo and Tyre were 
erected from part of its territory. In 1824 these four 
towns were represented in the Board of Supervisors 
as follows: — Junius, .\Ilen Hammond; Seneca Falls, 
Garry \'. Sacket; Waterloo. Richard P. Hunt; 'I'yre, 
Dr. Ihomas C. Magee. 



■•c;UIl''S' HISTOUICAI. SOUX'tMR Ol SKNKCA FALLS. 



St. Joseph's; a Chapter of Jesuit Experiences on 
till- l-.ast Sliore of Cayuga Lalce in 1668; Adven- 
tures of Missionaries at Oiogouen, near Seneca 
Kails, tlie Capital of the Cayuga Indians: — 
i'riestlv experiences among the Cayuga Indians in 
the 17th centurv form some of the most interesting of 
historical reading. The Jesuit Fathers in their robes 
ot black penetrated the deepest forests, taking their 
lives in their hands, and living midst filth and pagan- 
ism, with the purpose only of spreading the gospel. 
The chapter which touches very close to Seneca Falls 
describes their earliest mission among the Cayugas — 
St. Joseph's at the Indian town of Oiogouen, three 
and one-half miles south ot Union Springs. Oiogouen 
was the name also used to indicate the Cayuga 
nation and Cayuga lake. "Father Estienne de 
Carheil arrived there [the mission of St. Joseph] on 
the sixth dav of November in the year i66cS; and 
offered to Heaven as first fruits of his labors," writes 
the Jesuit historian, "a slave woman from .\ndas- 
togue. He had come in her company froui Onon- 
tague [Onondaga]: and this journey that they made 
together was put to use by him in making her enter 
on the road to Paradise, for having been instructed 
and baptized during this journey of two da\^, she 



approach of an enemy to besiege the village and the 
people were frantic with fear. Father de Carheil 
pointed out to them that those who had hope in 
Heaven would not fear to die and he calmed his 
hearers by his own fearless attitude and religious 
faith. 

The church prospered, taking to its bosom many 
women, children and warriors. "Prayer is not lield 
in contempt in Oiogouen," adds the priest, "as it is 
in some other places." But the good father had 
some queer and fateful experiences: he found that "in 
an infidel and barbarous country a missionary must 
always carry his soul in his hands." Having gone 
to Tiohero [mission of St. Stephen at the foot of the 
lake] he was invited to an "eat-all feast" for the 
recovery of a sick woman — whom he was going to 
visit with the intention of baptizing her after having 
given her instruction. He was told he must eat all 
that was placed before him or she would ni>t get 
well. He replied that he could not see how- he could 
cure a sick person by doing himself an injury, "a 
remedy which the Master of our lives forbids." ".\U 
were surprised at this answer." The woman then 
rejected the superstition of her people, was baptized 
and died "full "( profound consolation at learning 
that she would be happy after death." 

Father de Carheil baptized 28 people "of wliom 




L.iani-d liy W. H. VaUntine. CAYLUA LAKK AND SEXEr.\ KIVEK. 

Cayuga Lake Park Landing. 
Cayuga Lake Park— the Mall. 



Old Free Bridge over Sonera Kivcr. 
Seneca Kiver, South from Old Free Bridf,-e. 



was as soon as she arrived at Oiogouen, burnt and 
eaten by these barbarians on the sixth of November, 
leather Garnier, who had escorted Father de Carheil, 
made his presents upon his arrival in the village. 
One of these was to ask for a i"hapel, and another to 
invite to the Christian faith." The barbarians 
agreed to this and on Xov. 9, three days after his 
arrival, the chapel was completed and dedicated to 
St. Joseph bv Father de Carheil. 

On Saint Catharine's day, the good father writes, 
he "had evidence that that great saint was working 
in Heaven, both fcjr him and those poor barbarians: 
there came on that day a considerable number of 
persons who asked to pray and to be instructed. 
When he arrived he found few w ho came and received 
instruction, most of them being engaged in lishing 
or hunting. Father de Carheil found the Oiogouens 
regarded some created thing as master of their lives, 
those among whom he had located holding the 
beaver as such; and that he could get them to prayers 
only bv permitting them to address their prayers 
through that master. "So little by little," say the 
chronicles, "he introduces the knowledge of the true 
tiod, and teaches them His commandments which 
tf^ev find verv reasonable." 

Just about this time there was a rumor of the 



one-half have alreadv died in a disposition thought 
to be such as to ensure their going to Heaven." 

During his ministrations among the.se people his 
life was often in danger. He had gone to a cabin to 
baptize the young daughter of a Huron captive who 
was ill. Reasoning as only a benighted mind could, 
she told the good father that he had come "to make 
people die bv pouring water on their heads" [baptiz- 
ing]. Soon a juggler entered the cabin to apply the 
remedies of sup.^rstition and he drove the missionary 
out. The girl died and the juggler attributed it to 
the priest. .-\ plot was soon formed to take his life, 
but he had friends who were almost cimstantly in 
the council to arrest the plot. The report ol the 
affair reached adjoining missions and cons derable 
anxiety was felt for a time over the good father's sit- 
uation, messages being sent from Onondaga to 
inquire into the aUair. 

.\t another time a young warrior drove him from 
his cabin because de Carheil would not "allow him 
to sav that in roasting Indian corn in the ashes he 
would roast the master of his life." But these were 
the onlv two instances of ill treatment that were 
offered him in the village of Oiogouen. 

The good father came to no harm. His labi>rs 
were not unfruitfuL "Several warriors and a great 



iS 



•■c;Rn''s" Hisi'oiiicAi. scun'Exii; of skxkca kali.s. 



many women came to piay to Ciod, and even the 
children already know their prayers bv heart. The 
knowledge of God's commandments has become 
oommon in the families, and there is such an inclina- 
tion to learn them that people ask to pray to (lod on 
the open street. " .Vt the same time he was greativ 
troubled at the drunkenness that prevailed and 
"wrought great havoc " there. It became so com- 
mon that some were heard openly to shout before 
drinking, "1 am going to lose my head; 1 am going 
to drink (tf the water that takes awav one's wits. " 

Cayuga, Indians; 'lounger Brothers of the 
Iroquois Nation. — The fourth of the I''ive Nations of 
Indians, the earliest proprietors ot all of what is now 
New York state, were the Cayugas to whom belonged 
what is now included in Seneca c-ountv. l-'ron the 
sale of their lands to the stale, th" bounds of which 
were never wholly delmed, the Cayugas received, in 
the course of four treaties, 83,925 in cash, and an 
annuity of §2,300. The treaties provided for paying 
them more. I' inalK", after se\'en vears of hewing 



Iroquois before the latter had time to learn more 
than the vices of civilization which first penetrate a 
savage region with the trader and rum. The priests 
lived in their wigwams and studied their character- 
istics. Of the Mohawks the Jesuits said: "They are a 
cruel and herce people with whom we have no com- 
munication." The Oneidas they called a weak 
nation; the Onondagas the most influential, faitliful 
allies of the Jesuits; the Senecas the UK^st numerous 
and powerful. 

Of the Cayuga.^, who were sometimes called arro- 
gant, the Jesuits said; "This tribe is quite peacable 
tor the Iroquois; they have never, properlv speaking, 
borne arms against the French. They are sulBcientlv 
susceptible to good impressions made upiui them as 
we found by experience; and the late Father Menard, 
who was their pastor, alwavs praised their docility." 

Cayuga Flatterers; Clever and Cunning 

1*1 >litii i.ms -.\[i Inst mce. — 
The Chief l)."puty from the Cayugas, who was at 
a council ot treaty with the I'rench and Onondagas, 
is spoken of by the Jesuits as making a speech ol 




Pruden, Pboto. SENECA RIVEK AND CANAL, Flii IM ItCMSEY STREET BRIDGE, LOOKING EAST. 



down the possessions of the Indians, the whites got 
the Cayugas to accept 84,800 spot cash and get out 
[See Reservatiim.s. etc., elsewhere.] 

The most powerful of all Indian confederacies, the 
Mohawks, (^neid.'is, Onondagas, Ca\'ugas and Senecas 
were a ciuifederation called by the I'rench the 
Iroquois. In 1713 they adopted the Tuscaroras from 
the Carolinas and settled them among the Oneidas. 
Considerably earlier, they had adopted the Pawnees 
.and the Catawb.is and settled them among the 
Cayugas — at the head of Cayuga lake. The Oneidas 
and Cayugas were called the "younger brothers" and 
other nations treated them as younger brothers are 
sometimes treated. They were also burdened with 
the support of prisoners or captives. The Tusca- 
roras retained a tribal organization suflicient to give 
the name Six Nations t(v the confederation. The 
remn.mls of Pawnees and Catawbas were too small 
to be considered. 

The earliest and most penetrating students of the 
Iroquois were the French Jesuit Priests who came to 
Ouebec and thence into this country to establish 
;nissions [see Jesuits]. They lived in the midst of the 



much\\*it and eloquence. This was in itijd when 
Fathers I)'.\blon and Chaimioiiot began the Jesuit 
missions at Onondaga. Phe |iith of his address was 
an expression of the honor that the French had 
bestowed upon his nation in adopting it as brethren, 
and the assurances that the Cayugas would never 
become unworthy of that high distinctiim or fail to 
d<i honor to so illustrious a connection. 

.\or was this diplomatist, clever in flaUering, 
lacking any in impressing the whites with the honor 
such a connection bestowed upon them, since his 
people, the Cayugas, had never been adopted except 
by people of rank, he said; "yet,"" the chief added, 
"this adoption of them bv Onnontio [French Ciov- 
ernorjcrowned all the glory which they [the Cayugas] 
derived from all tlieir pre\'ious ties and alliances."* 
1 show his joy over this glorv the deputy began a 
song which was as pleasing as it was ne\\\ A]\ 
present sang with him. *' " the man, himself, 
danced in the midst of them all, performing strange 
antics — keeping his whole body in motion; making 
gestures with his hands, feet, head, eyes and mouth; 



■CA- 



M'S" HISTORICAL SOIVICXIR OF SEXKCA 1 ALLS. 



19 




''""""iENErARlVEK AND CAXAL-SODUS R. K. BRIDGE IN 
THE DISTANCE. 

and all this so exaftly t(i the time of both his singinfl 
and that of the others, that the result was admirable. 
Then this wily and exceedingly clever savage pre- 
sented the Jesuits with presents; one to adopt the 
Oneidas, twin brothers of the Cayugas; another to 
receive faithful covenant: the third to secure the 
Mohawks: the fourth the Onondagas: the fifth the 
northt-rii nations anil tlif sixth as an earnest of action. 

Seneca' County in the 17th century: Keautiful 
Countrv .\bounding with Game: — Father Raffeix 
was sent to Oiogouen. the capital of the Cayugas, to 
teni|)orarilv take the place of Father de Carheil 
in i(>7i. He writes: "Goiogouen [Spelled two 
uav< l)v the Jesuits] is the fairest country that I 
have seen in .America. It is a tract situated 
between two lakes and not exceeding foui leagues in 
width, consisting of almost uninterrupted plains, the 
woods bordering which are extremely beautiful. 
Anniee is a very narrow valley often abounding in 
atones and always covered with mists. The moun- 
tains hemming it in seem to me to 
1),' of verv poor soil, .\round Goio- 
gouen there are killed annually more 
tlian a thousand deer. Fish — sal- 
mon. .IS well as eels and other kinds 
— are as plentiful here as at Onnon- 
tague [Onondaga]. Four leagues 
from here I saw bv the side of a river 
[Seneca river near Cayuga lake out- 
let] within a very limited space, 
eight or ten extremely tine salt 
springs. Many snares are set there 
for catching pigeons, from seven to 
eight hundred being taken at once. 
Lake Tiohero [Cayuga] one of the 
two adjoining our village [the other 
was ( )\\asco lake], is fully fourteen 
leagues long by one or two wide. 
Swans and busiirds are very abund- 
,int there during the entire winter: 
and in spring <ine sees nothing but 
continual clouds of all sorts of wild 
fowl. The Ochoueguen [Oswego 
river, now the Seneca river] which 
Hows from this lake divides in its 
upper waters into several channels, 
bordered by prairies Montezuma 



marshes — the Seneca and the Os- 
wego rivers were known by the 
lesuits as only one stream, called the 
( )choueguen]: and at intervals are 
very pleasant and somewhat deep 
Inlets which are preserves for game. 
1 find the inhabitants of Goiogouen 
the Cavugas] more tradable and 
less haughty -than the Onontagues 
Onondagas] and Onneiout [Oneidas] 
:ind if God had humbled them as he 
lias the .Anniee, 1 believe the faith 
could be planted here more easily 
than in any of the other Iroquois 
nations. There are estimated to be 
more than 300 warriors here, and a 
prodigious number of little children." 

Sleep Gods, Worshipped by the 

Indians near Seneca Falls in the 

17th Century; Perils of Jesuit 

Missionaries. — 

Father de Carheil in June, 1670,31 

Oiogouen writes: "This nation has 

only three villages — Goiogouen [in the vicinity of 

Union Springs] to which we have given the name of 

St. Joseph, patron of the whole [Cayuga] mission; 

Kiohero [at Cayuga outlet] which we call St. 

Fstienne; and Onnontare [2^ miles east of Savannah 

which was called the village of St. Rene.] 

"Since last autumn I have baptized 25 children and 
12 adults. "■■■■ ® *■ I have strenuously opposed 
their superstitions and especially the divinity of 
dreams. The dream that they worship as the master 
of their lives [is] but a certain (me of the spirits 
called bv them .Agatkonchoria — who, as they think, 
sometimes speaks to them in sleep, and commands 
them to obey their dreams exactly. The principal of 
the spirits is Taronhiaonagon, whom they acknow- 
ledge as a divinity, and obey as the Great Master of 
their lives; and when they speak of dreams as of a 
God, thev mean nothing else tlian that it is by this 
means that thev gain knowledge of the will of (jod, 
and of what is needful for the preservation of their 
lives, and that tin- doing of wh.-it they havf teen in 




Loaned by H. C. Si'sh.v. _ ,...,„ ^ 

RIVER SCENE ABOVE THE UPPER FALLS^, LoiiKING EA^^ 



"GRIP'S" HISIORICAL SOL\'K\IR OK SKXIX'A I Al.l.S. 




Loaned bv H. C. Silsbv. 

SENECA RIVEK IN THE REAR OF FALL STREET. 
(Business blocks on the light are seven stories over the river and two 
in front?) 



mure like highwaymen than soldiers; 
.iml their expeditions are made more 
by means nf surprises than bv regu- 
lar battles. They rest all their glorv 
in rciming home accompanied hv 
captives — men, women and children 
— or loaded with the scalps of those 
whom they have killed in combat." 

Six Nations — CVigiu of Their 
r?ace: Re\ . Mr. Pyrkeus resident 
among the Six Nations in 1743 
quotes the Mohawk chief, Squarady, 
viz: They dwelt in the earth where 
no sun shone. Though thev fol- 
lowed hunting they ate mice which 
they caught with their own hands. 
Ganawaghha having found a hole 
went out and found a di er. In con- 
sequence ol the meat tasting good 
their mother concluded it best for 
them all to go out which they did, 
except the groundhog. They con- 
sider the earth as their universal 
mother. They believe thev were 
created within its bosom where for a 
long time they had their abode 
before thev came to live on its 
surface. They say the grand and 
good spirit had prepared all things 
for their reception but like an infant 
in the womb of the natural mother 
their first stage of existence was 
wiselv ordained to be within the 
earth'. 



dreams is a means which contributes to the establish- 
ment of their health and of their good fortune. 
Sometimes, too, thev give this same name. 'Master of 
their Lives,' to the subject of their 
dream — for example, to a bearskin 
or deerskin, and to other like objects 
that they have seen in their sleep, 
because they regard them as reme- 
dies to which God has attached the 
good fortune of a long life. .And, in 
fact, they take marvelous pains tn 
preserve these things, with this in 
view; and, when they are ill, they 
cover themselves with these, or put 
them near at hand, as a defense 
against the attack of the disease. 
- '■■ They become persuaded 
that it [the soul J leaves' the bodv 
when the latter is asleep, and itself 
goes in quest of these objects, during 
the dream, to the jilaces w-here it 
sees them — returning into the bods- 
when all the dreams are dissipated.' 

Cayuga Warriors and Hunters. 
"The ideas of all these tribes," writes 
a Jesuit Missionarv of the Cayuga 
Indians in if>7i, "prompt them to 
the pursuit of nothing but hunting 
and warfare, .\mong them are seen 
only parties of twenty, thirty or 
fifty men — of a hundred and some- 
times of two hundred; rarely do 
they go to the number of a thous md 
in a single band. These bands are 
divided, to go some in quest of men 
and others of beasts; thev make war 



First Mills. - Thr- first saw 
and grist mills em ted between Cas'uga and Seneca 
lakes were built bv Dr. Silas Halsev three miles east 

of l.ndi l.;indingon Seneca lake. 




LoiOiLil bv H. C. Silsliv. 

LOOKING UP'THE KIVEK FKOM F,\LL STREET, EAST 
OF THE VILLAGE. 



'■GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Or SLXECA lALLS. 



A VILLAGE IMMORTALIZED. 

Seneca I'. ill-, i^ cll^tln,L;ulslu■.l l.y f'uir .L,'nMt liistdn- 
ral events, onlv one nf which had no permanent 
eflect, but all of them greatly impressing themselves 

on societv. 

The writer refers to the transient fad in dress, hrst 
introduced at Seneca I'alls by a Seneca Falls woman 
and known as Bloomers; to the permanent and 
radical reform in political economy, Woman's Rights, 
which secured to women a voice in local government, 
hrst promulgated here; to what is known as the 
Hollv Inventions, a water system for municipalities 
and the rotary steam fire engine now in use the 
world over, conceived and perfected by a resident of 
this village: and to the Mormon religion which was 
first promulgated a mile west of this village by a 
clever, scheming and illiterate day laborer, Joseph 
Smith. 

What more conki a community ask to make itself 
immurtal- 

The history of each is given elsewhere more fully. 

Reservations. — Skoiyase and Cayuga — Pass- 
ing of the Red Man — Cayuga Reservation 
Boundaries. — 
Bv treaty ratified at Albany, Feb. 25, 1789, the 
Cavugas ceded to the state all of their lands, except 
specified reservations, in consideration of §500 in 
silver paid down, §1,625 to be paid on June i follow- 
ing, and S500 annually to them or their posterity. 
The largest of their reservations was a tract embrac- 
ing "exclusive of the water of Cayuga lake, the 
quantity of 100 square miles" [so it reads] on the 
west shore of Cayuga lake and south of the Seneca 
river also enclosing a considerable tract along the 
river east and north of Cayuga outlet. The western 

boundary was to run at the mean distance of three 
miles west of the west shore of Cayuga lake and the 
eastern boundarv to follow the east shore of the lake. 
The northern boundary was Seneca river. 

The northeast corner of this reservation was des- 
cribed as "the Cavuga Salt spring on Seneca river." 

One squar"e mile of the above tract at Cayuga ferry 
w:is granted to Peter Ryckman, "the adopted child" 
of the Cayugas." 

A tract of 16,000 acres on the west shore of Seneca 
lake was also set aside, 325 acres of which was to be 
granted ''to a white person married to a daughter of 
a Cavuga man named TH.AXOEWAS," and the 
balance to Peter Ryckman. 

The same treaty also provided for the Skoiyase 
reservation, viz: "also the place in the Seneca river 
at or near a place called Skayes, where the Cayugas 
have heretofore taken eel, and a competent piece of 
land on the southern side of the river at the said 
place sufficient for the said Cayugas to land and 
encamp on and to cure their eel." 

The Cavuga Chief Fish Carrier was also to have a 
mile square for the separate use of himself and his 
familv which was not located, however, until at a 
later treaty. 

The Cayugas and their posterity were to forever 
be granted the right of hunting and fishing in every 
part of said ceded lands. 

Chief Steel Trap (Kanistagia) signed for himself 
and eight chiefs, with the signatures of eleven other 
chiefs, besides. 

Maj. .Abraham Hardenbergh in the latter part of 
1789, surveyed the tracts intended for the two reser- 
vations, at Cayuga lake and Skoiyase, under the 



protection of the militia, there being threats of vio- 
lence bv the two parties opposed to and demanding 
the reservation south of Seneca River at Skoiyase. 

On June 22, 1790, at Fort Stanwix the Cayuga 
chiefs confirmed the .\lbany treaty, some of the chiefs 
having preached repudiation. Joseph Brant sustained 
the treatv, his signature appearing as one of the 
witnesses. 

On Julv 27, 1745, at Cayuga Ferry, by treaty a 
third time between the State and the Cayugas, "in 
order to render the said reservations more productive 
of annual income to the said Cayuga nation," the 
reservations were reconstructfed. This time it cost 
the State §1,800 more, paid down, with additional 
payments of a like sum the following June and each 
year thereafter. This was in addition to what the 
Cayugas had alreadv received and to the 8300 in 
annual payments provided by the treaty of 1789, as 
well as the S 1,000 "benevolence," stipulated and 
paid bv the treaty of 1790. The third treaty reduced 
their reservation entire, to two tracts only; first, the 
reservation proper, two miles square near the foot of 
the lake (taken from the big reservation), and the 
"Mine reservation," so-called, one mile square. Fish 
Carrier by this treaty was granted one mile square at 
Canoga creek, the state to control the lease of his 
grant and pay him the cash at Canandaigua, where 
the Cayugas were to receive their payments. By this 
treaty allother lands including the Skoiyase reserva- 
tion went to the State or individual purchasers. 

But the Cayugas, like all other wards of the state, 
wanted money rather than lands — or it may be that 
thrifty and designing white people who coveted the 
lands" made them think so. .4t least, on May 30, 
1807, nine Cavuga chiefs received "84,800 in hand' 
and signed away all rights and titles to all lands in the 
State, including their reservations. They were then 
removed to Sanduskv, O. Most of them subsequently 
went to Indian Territory, about 160 settling with 
the Senecas and the balance, a very few, at Tona- 
wanda. 

General Sullivan's expedition to the Seneca 
and Genesee countries in 1779, made to chastise 
Seneca and Cayuga Indians for the barbarities they 
were perpetrating upon the colonists then engaged 
in war against Great Britian, resulted in nearly 
exterminating both tribes. He laid in waste thous- 
ands of acres of standing crops and orchards, and 
destroyed 40 Seneca and Cayuga towns, besides great 
quantities of potatoes and other vegetables. Nine 
Indian towns in Seneca county and seven others on 
Cayuga and Seneca lakes were burned. The Seneca 
Indians then occupied the east and west shores of 
Seneca lake and a considerable region in the Genesee 
country. The Cayugas were on both shores of 
Cayuga lake and in the interior of what is now Seneca 
county. The Senecas had allied themselves openly 
with the British and had carried through the.-\merican 
frontiers the torch and scalping knife. The Cayugas 
professing friendship for the colonists were not open 
enemies but were culpable. Washington appointed 
Maj. -Gen. John Sullivan of New Hampshire, to com- 
mand the expedition. It consisted of two divisions. 
The main army under the commander, 3,,500 men, 
was formed of three brigades commanded respectively 
by Brig. -Gen. Maxwell, Brig.-Gen. Enoch Poor and 
Brig. -Gen. Edward Hand. The other division, 1,600 
troops, was commanded by Brig.-Gen. James Clinton. 
They were united at Tioga, .Aug. 22, 1779, and on 
the 29th fought and defeated the British and Indians 
under Butler and Brandt, at Newtown. On Sept. i, 
they destroyed the Indian village of Sheaquaga, or 
Catharines Town, at the head of Seneca lake. 



■•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOLA-IiXIR OF SFAT.CA FALLS. 



Then llirv filtered what is now Seneca county. 
Sullivan's march north along the east shore of that 
lake occupied Sept. 3-fi, leaving; in ruins the Indian 
towns of Con-daw-haw (at North Hectorl, destroyed 
Sept. 4, and Kendaia or .\ppIetown, Sept. j. Their 
ramps on the march were: The night of the 3d, nine 
miles from the head of the lake, near Peach Orchard; 
on the 4th, eight miles north of Xorth Hector, im the 
ith, at Appletown and on the f)th, three miles north of 
Kendaia, at Indian Hollow. 

.\t .\ppleto\vn. Luke Sweatland, captured several 
months before by the Indians at 'VVyoming and 
adopted by the Senecas, was found hearty and well 
.Hid released from captiv ity. 

.\t the foot of Seneca lake Sullivan destroyed a 
small village on the east side of the outlet known as 
I'lutlers, Sept. 7, and the same day crossed to Kanada- 
saga (Cieneva) where his army rested on the 8th. On 
the same dav Col. John Harper, with a small com- 
mand marched east along the Seneca river and des- 
troved the Cayuga village of Skoiyase on the site fif 
Waterloo, burning 18 houses on the north side of the 
river and destroving large fields of corn, which with 
the rirchards were ripening. .\ Cavuga capti\'e taken 
there declared that the Cayugas had not supposed 
that thev were to be punished until they learned of 



men, was detached from Butler's command, and he 
destroyed what Harper, 13 days before had over- 
looked, doing his work well, and rejoining Butler at 
Cayuga outlet, where tiansevoort proceeded east and 
Butler turned his steps south, hrst burning the Indian 
town of Choharo [TioheroJ. In the vicinity of Union 
Springs he laid waste to immense crops and burned 
four towns, Gewawga on the site of Union Springs, tin 
upper and lower towns at Gully Brook and Old 
town two miles northeast: and where .\urora 
now stands he destroyed the town of Chonodote. 
F'rom there the partv proceeded to the head of the 
lake, finding only scattered wigwams and reached 
the settlement of the Catawabas, Co-re-or-go-ml 
soon after Dearborn's partv had laid it in ashes. 

Col. Dearborn, following the trail through the 
woods between the lakes, burned a small town at the 
place near where the Seneca F'alls and Fayette road 
now crosses tl e Rose Hill road. .At the present site 
of Canoga he burned three Indian villages and a 
large house farther south. Opposite .\urora he came 
upon the ruins of the town of Swah-va-wa-nali, 
which the day before had been burned by a party 
from Col. Gansevoort's command who had got 
astray'. Only a few isolated Indian encampments 
were encountered until he reached Co-re-or-go-nel, 




Loaned by Guortre U. Davis. 

FALL STREET ABOUT 1872 



BUSINESS SECTION ON THE SOUTH SIDE NEAR OVID STREET. 



the approach of Harper to their nearest village. 
This statement was c<mhrmed later, and the Oneidas 
who had accompanied the expedition and pleaded 
for their brothers, the Cayugas, were shown evidences 
that the Cayugas had violated their treaties with the 
Americans. 

After Sullivan had destroyed Little Beards town 
on the Genesee river and upon his return to Kanada- 
saga, Sept. 19, he sent Col. Peter Gansevoort with 
100 men on an invasion of the Mohawks and Col. 
William Butler with 600 men to destrov the Cayuga 
tow-ns and crops. On the 21st, after the army had 
recrossed Seneca outlet. Col. Henry Dearborn with 
200 men, detached to carry war along the west shore 
of Cayuga lake, plunged into the woods upon the 
trail leading east to Canoga creek, and crossing the 
present town of Fayette. His course passed partly 
over the route of the present Rose Hill and Canoga 
road between three and four miles south of Skoiyase. 

On Sept. 20, Cols. Gansevoort and Butler, march- 
ing in company, reached Skoiyase and went into 
camp. In the morning Maj. William Scott with 200 



live miles south of the head of the lake, which he 
completely devastated. Butler and Dearborn both 

rejoined Su]li\an farther south. 

Photography, Auld Lang Syne. 'When 
you stop to consider the difference between the wet 
and the dry plate process," said a photographer, 
"you can appreciate what giant strides photography- 
has taken in the past few- years. We formerly took 
a clear plate of glass and soaked it in lye, washing 
thoroughly in clear water. Then we passed it 
through diluted nitric acid, and after washing again, 
passed it through diluted ammonia and then again 
washed it. We prepared our own albumen, taking 
the white of an egg and beating it thoroughly in 
water by shaking it with broken glass in a bottle. 
Then we flowed the plates by hand and placed them 
in a dust proof closet. When we were to make a 
sitting we took one of the plates from the closet and 
Howed the albumenized side with colh^dion. The 
plate was then placed in a solution of silver, resting 
edge up. This gave us about three-quarters of a 



■GI^IPS" HISTORICAL SflUXKXIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



23 




Liiaued hv Jauet Ciiwiujf. 

SENECA FALLS IN 1815 (from a raVL- old print), 

miiiuti" aiul we hurried out and seated the subject 
and foeused the instrument. Think nf piising a 
sitter now days in three quarters of a minute! The 
pulilii- would not tolerate it. They would say the 
sitter had been slighted. Hut the plate must not be 
permitted to stand in the silver any longer and when 
once taken out we had no time to waste. .\ wet 
plate would dry in ten minutes, and when dry wnuld 
be of no use. Some limes it might be longer dryiny 
and other times shorter, according to the condition 
of the atmosphere. But you remember how the 
photographer in those days went to and from the 
dark room on a jump and how, after making the 
sitting, he developed the negative while the sitter 
waited and then came out and showed it to the latter 
for his approval or disapproval. No proofs were 
then show-n. The photographer held the negative 
against a dark background — his sleeve, the flap of 
his coat or something else for the customer to look 
at. But I left the plate in the silver bath. It was 
lished out with a dipper and placed in an old fash- 
ioned plate holder, which had a swing door. It ^as 
wet and dripping when it came from the silver and 
we always wiped the edges and back with bilbulous 
paper and allowed the plate to drain on a blotter. 
Still it dripped silver until 
drv and as siK'er is not to 
be wasted we had a trough 
in the bottom of the plate 
holder whieh caught the 
dripping which we 
emptied into a bottle. It 
was also necessarv to de- 
velop quickly and this we 
did by flowing the plate in 
the hand, instead of in a 
tray as is done now-; that 
is holdmg up the plate bv 
one corner and turning it 
about so as to direct the 
flow of the solution to all 
parts of the surface. Th-s 
was not easily acquired bv 
an apprentii'e. The plate 
was dried bv artilicial 
heat. In th<.>se davs a 
sitting occupied from ten 
seconds to three-quarters 
of a minute; now from 
one-quarter of a second to Loaned by .lanet Cowing. 



three or four seconds, de- 
Ijendingnot only upon the 
light but upon the color of 
the drapery to be taken. 
But in those days a pho- 
tographer was not expect- 
cd_ to make a sittjing in very 
cloudy weather, anil manv 
photographers a d v i s e d 
their patrons to wait for a 
sunn\- d.iv. 

Indian Towns near 
Seneca Falls where the 
Cayugas and .Senecas lived 
in the seventeenth and 
eighteenth centuries: — The 
Cayugas, the fourth of 
the Five Nations, and the 
Senecas, the fifth, at the 
earliest period after the 
white man's arrival occu- 
pied — the lirst, botli sides of Cayuga lake; the Senecas, 
the Cienesee and tributary valleys. The eastermost 
town of the Senecas was 20 miles west of Geneva. 
.A. century or more later, about the time the pioneers 
arrived in Seneca county, the Senecas had e.xtended 
their village to Seneca lake and they then occupied 
both sides of that lake. 

The chief Seneca towns w'ere: 

Tsonnouan, the capital of the Senecas, stood on 
the west bank in the westerly bend of Honeoye creek 
two miles north of Honeove Falls, town of Mendon, 
.Monroe county. The Jesuit mission of La Concep- 
tion was here. 

Gandagara the other chief town of the Senecas, 
-St. Jacques or St. James mission, was then on Bough- 
ton Hill, one mile south of Victor, Ontario county. 

GandougarcE, St. Michel's mission, was three and 
one-half miles south of Boughton Hill. 

Gandachiragon, St. Jean's mission, on the west 
bank of Hemlock creek near Lima, N. Y. 

The chief Cayuga tow-ns in the seventeenth century 
were: — 

Oiogouen, three and one-half miles south of I'nion 
Springs, was the earliest known capital of the Cay- 
ugas. Here was located the Jesuit mission of St. 
Joseph. Cayuga Castle, which was in fact the name 




FALL STREET IN 1870. 



24 



"(•■RH'-S" HISTORICAL SOU\-ENIR OF SEXECA FALLS. 



for a group of villages, was the name afterwards 
given to the site of Oiogouen. 

Thiohero, St. Stephen's .lesuit mission, an Indian 
town of importance, occupied the east shore of 
Cavuga outlet, near the end i>f the present railroad 
bridijp. Near this place were sal' sjirings where tlie 
Cavugas, and a century later the Seneca? came for 
salt. This t^^wn was where the Cayugas kept their 
prisoners taken from the Hurons and .Andastogues, 
the northern tribes, by whom it w'as laigely settled. 

Onontare, St. Rene's mission, was on the west 
bank of Seneca river, two and one-half miles directly 
east from the village of Savannah. This, like 
Skoivasp a century later, was the fishing village of 
the Cayugas. 

Thiohero then consisted of two large houses and 
several smaller ones. Its name, "place of the rushes" 
was also applied to the lake. It was also called 
Choharo and Sannio. 

Gewawga (Union Springs] was the next south, and 
bevond was the Cayuga group, viz: 

"Cavuga Castle, on the nortli shore of (iully brook, 
I'pper Cavuga across the stream and Cayuga or Old 
Town lOiogoucn) northeast a half a mile or more 



Swah-va-w'a-nah was the ne.xt town south of this 
Skanayutenate group of villages. 

Chonodote, consisting of fifteen houses, stood on 
the site of Aurora, opposite, across the lake, from 

S\vah-ya-wa-nah. 

Co-re-or-go-nel or De-Ho-Riss-Kanadai, at the 
head of the lake (Tompkins county), Jj houses 
occupying both sides of the inlet at Ithaca, like 
Thiohero, was a settlement of prisoners, or rather 
conquered nations, whose people w-ere selected to 
become part of the Cayugas and were given places 
in which to live. Otlier captives were made slaves 
and scattered through the towns of the nation. 
Those at the upper end of the lake were fnmi south- 
ern nations, principally remnants of the Catawbas. 
At Thiohero were the northern nations, principally 
Hurons. These extremes were connected by trails 
following both shores of the lake and passing through 
immense fields of corn and vegetables as well as 
apple orchards. 

The Senecas, at the Ijeginning of the last centin\, 
occupied the head and loot of Seneca lake. Their 
towns were: 

Kanadasaga (Geneva), the chief town and one of 
the rapit.ils, at the outlet, containing 50 houses. 




Loaned by Janet Cowiug. FLOOD SCENE FI 

Downs & Gould's Pump Factoi'y,()vid and Green Streets; 

from the lake. These were all made principally 
from hewn logs and comprised (in 1779), with scat- 
tering houses along the trail north to Thiohero about 
100 dwellings. Here the main trail from the 
Onondagas crossed the lake to a similar group of 
Cayuga towns on the west shore. They were: 

Skanayutenate, or Ge-no-gah, on the north bank 
of Canoga creek (the birthplace of Red Jacket, see 
sketch of Red Jacket on another page). One mile 
north was a smaller town (the birthplace of Logan. 
See sketch elsewhere) and south was the village (on 
the Disinger farm) called Newtown. Not the Nevv- 
tow-n of Gen. Sullivan's famous battle with the 
Indians. Between the sites of the present villages of 
Canoga and Rose Hill at the head of a stream flow- 
ing north and emptying into Seneca river at Waterloo, 
was the fourth of this group of villages, occupying 
the trail which led northwest to the outlet of Seneca 
lake. 

Skoiyase, the fishing village — the market place of 
the Cayugas, terminated a diverging trail, occupying 
the north shore of Seneca river, now the site of 
Waterloo. [See Skoiyase elsewhere.] 



FTY YEARS AGO. 

Cowing's shop in the foreground (from a very poor photo.) 

Sheaquaga or Catharines 'I'own, 40 houses on hntli 
sides of the inlet, was a large point for stock and 
crops. 

Con-daw-haw (North Hector) consisted of a long 
house surrounded by smaller ones. 

Kendaia or ,-Vppletown {tw(i miles north of Kendaia 
postolTice, town of Romulus, one-half mile from the 
lake) having 20 houses of hewn logs, was remarkable 
for many tombs found there, made of oblong boxes 
with slits in the top. jiainted bright colors. 

County Treasurers — (Dates given are when 
elected; years in service include following years and 
year of election of successor.) Andrew Dunlap, jr., 
1848; Daniel H.Bryant,' 1851; James Ferguson, 1854; 
Charles Sentell, 1857: James B. Thomas, i860; Reu- 
ben D. Hulbert, 1863; Wm. Dunlap, 1866; Geo. M. 
Guion, i8{>c:); James .M. Martin, 1872; Wm. A. Swabv, 
1873; Walter H. Allen, 1878; Wm. Walker, uSS'i ; 
Jonathan O. Thom.as, 1884; Horace N. Rumsev, 
1887; Wm. W. Boyer, 1890; Maynard T. Corkhill, 
1893; Augustin S. Parish, 1896, '99 (re-elected by 4 
votes) Fred G. Smith, 1902. 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOLVKNIR OI' SENECA EAI.I 



Red Jacket [Sa-go-ya-wat-ha] — This remark- 
able rliul aiui sachem of the Seneca Indians, disting- 
uished as an oratur anning the Iroquois and a leader 
of marked influence among his people, was born only 
a few miles from Seneca Falls. The Waterloo 
Historical Society with impressive ceremonies 
unveiled a monument, which this society had patri- 
oticallv erected to his memory on the site of his 
birthplace, C)ct. 14, 1891. The site of the wigwam 
in which Red Jacket was born, was definitely located 
in the Indian town of .Skanayutenate on the west 
shore of Cavuga lake. The location of this town is 
described as follows: "On the road following 
generally the west bank of Cayuga lake, about a 
mile north of the present village of Canoga, and a 
half a mile from the lake, near the outlet of the 
stream known as Canoga creek, running from the 
springs to the lake, is located Canoga cemetery, a 
beautiful and picturesque spot. Between the ceme- 
tery and the lake and about forty rods from the lake 
on the south bank of the creek was the Indian town 
of Skanayutenate." 

Across'the creek (the north side) under an oak tree 
and close to a large spring which fed the creek, and 
near the ridge upon which the lake road runs, stood 
the wigwam in which Red Jacket was born. 

It was under the same oak tree that the greatest of 
historical characters among the Indians, the great 
.Mingo chief Loga was also born [See sketch of Logan 
in next column]. 

Red Jacket, known as such because he wore such a 
garment, was the son of a Cayuga warrior and a 
.Seneca woman. He derived his rank as sachem of 
tlie wolf clan of the Senecas from his mother, accord- 
ing to the custom of the Iroquois. Red Jacket was 
born in i/jo and died in 1830. He was not only an 
orator, but a fierce warrior who led his people during 
the revolution to espouse the cause of the British. 
He was a swift runner and physically a powerful 
man, and was employed as a messenger by theofliceis 
at the Niagara fort. 

.\t the close of the war he sullenly accepted peace, 
but participated in the Fort Stanwix treaty with the 
Americans in 1784. From that time he faithfully 
stood with the whites and always opposed the upris- 
ing of the red men. It was he who gave Erastus 
Granger, the Indian agent, warning of the Tecumsch 
league against the government. In 1810 he visited 
Washington and in 1829 went to Xew York city 
where his portrait was painted by Robert W. Weir. 
Hart afterwards copied it — and his work is now in 
possession of Dr. Bellows of W'aterloo. 

It was said of Red Jacket that at least in his later 
years he held a rigid and honorable course in his 
relations with the whites. He predicted that his 
people would at last disappear and often spoke in 
contempt of the white people because of their treat- 
ment of the Indians. 

In 1821 he was called as a witness in Buffalo 
against Tommy Jemmey, a Seneca chief who was 
charged with murder for cutting the throat of an 
Indian woman condemned thus to die by the Seneca 
nation on the charge of witchcraft. When he was 
asked if he believed in future rewards and punish- 
ments and the existence of a God. *'with a piercing 
look into the face of his interrogator and with no 
little indignation of expression he replied,' Yes, much 
more than the white men if we are to judge by their 
actions.' " 

He was not slow at the trial to "turn the point " 
against the prosecution in the following words: 
"What! do you denounce us [the Senecas] as fools 
and bigots because we still believe that which you, 
yourselves, believed two centuries ago? WTiat have 
our brothers done more than the rulers of your 
people have done and what crime has this man com- 
mitted by executing in a summary wav the laws of 
his country and the command of the Great Spirit?" 



Logan [ fall-ga-yee-ta], the Indian whose fluent 
tongue was the wonder of his day, was born — strange 
and scarcely credible as a co-incident of that sort 
may seem — on the very spot where the famous chief. 
Red Jacket, first saw light. It was under the same 
oak and beside the same spring, on the west shore of 
Cavuga lake [See sketch of Red Jacket] in the year of 
1732, two years after the birth of the Seneca chief. 
Logan, the son of the Cayuga chief, Shik-elli-mus, 
was the Iroquois statesman without rank through 
birthright, whose natural gift was that of a strong 
orator, and who bv inherent wisdom made for him- 
self the first place as an historical character. 

In the border wars of Ohio Logan's entire family, 
wife and children, had been murdered by a party of 
whites who decoved them from their camp for that 
purpose. .\t the treaty made by Lord Dunsmore at 
Camp Charlotte on the Sciota river, some months 
later, occurred that famous speech of Logan's of 
which Thomas Jefferson said, "1 may challenge the 
whole orations of Demosthenes and Cicero, and of 
any more eminent orator, if Iturope has furnished 
more eminent, to produce a single passage superior 




Copied from Paintinj.' n\vr\,-r\ i,y Dr. c;. A. Bellows. 
Loanefl bv Obs^^wRr. \Vnt*^rl'^o. 

RED JATKET. FAMOfS SKNEfA CHIEF. 
Born near Seneca Falls, N. Y. 

to that speech of Logan's." Logan, towering head 
and shoulders above the assembled councillors — his 
was a majestic figure — said: "1 appeal to an\' white 
man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry 
and he gave him not meat, if he ever came cold and 
naked and he clothed him not. *■ - " For my 
country I rejoice at the besom of peace! But do you 
not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. 
Logan never felt fear! He will not turn on his heel 
to save his life! Who is there to mourn for Logan? 
Not one." 

When young, Logan fell in with the Moravians in 
Pennsylvania and for some time lived in Mifflin 
county. Pa., four miles from Reedsville, where for 
years afterwards was pointed out the famous Logan 
spring. Then he moved to Juniata and married a 
.Shawnee woman. He was buried on a bluff near 
Steubenville, O., overlooking the Ohio river and 
Mingo creek, the grave now being covered with 
bowlders. .\t F'ort Hill cemetery, Auburn, N. Y.. 
stands a monument erected to his memory by Wil- 
liam H. Se\\'ard. 



26 



"GI^IP'S" HISTORICAL SOr\'F.XIR OI- SEXECA FALLS. 




Loaned bv H. C. Silsby. 

OLD HI) AG HOl'SE-FALL STREET, LOOKING EAST 

"Mormon Joe," as he was called — Joseph Smith, 
the I'lunilrr 'if Mmnionism, first made known his 
"divine discovery," the "golden plates," which none 
hereabouts ever saw, to some of the prominent resi- 
dents of Junius. He located at Kingdom, a mile 
west of Seneca Falls, about 182 1 or '22 as a general 
han<l for any kind of work; hut engaged chielly in 
fmding water with a switch carried in the hand, a 
custom in those days. He came here from Pompey 
and lived chiefly by his wits. From this place he 
went over into the town of Fayette, about 1830, wliere 
in .April of that vear he organized the first Mormon 
church and baptized the first converts. Mr. Harrison 
Chamberlain well remembers nuirh told about his 
personality by his father 
and grandfather. 

Strangely he procured 
financial assistance from 
wf.-ilthv men living here- 
abouts to whom he in con- 
fidence first made known 
his "divine inspirations.' 
Some of these men sacri- 
ficed a good deal to furnish 
him funds. He had with 
him an assistant or secre- 
tary, Olivei Cowc'ery, who 
transcribed what NIormon 
Joe, stan.ling behind a cur- 
tain, professed to read from 
the golden plates, thi' ".11 
spired Word of God," .is 
Smith said. 

He was a peculiar, odd 
looking man, dressed in thi' 
plainest homespun, and 
rather an object of wit and 
pleasantry. It was not un- 
til the fal'l of 1823 that he 



aroused particular interest in him- 
self. Then he claimed that he had a 
singular and mysterious mission. It 
soon was noised about that Smith 
had received some spiritual revela- 
tion, and the place was wild to learn 
more about it. Under apparently a 
simple and innocent manner. Smith 
must have been a keen judge of 
human nature, understanding well 
how to e.xcite curiosity and make 
converts. 

His earliest "baptisms" — by im- 
mersion — were at Silver Creek, soutii 
iif Kingdom. He then resided in tlie 
house of Peter Whitmer, three miles 
south of Waterloo, where he gathered 
his few followers about him and 
preached to them. 

It was while here that Smith at- 
tracted the attention of Brigham 
Viiung, who was then a lad, one of 
tlie hve sons of .lohn Young, who 
li\ed in the town of Trycme, Schuy- 
ler county. Levi Halsey says that 
John Young was a revolutionary 
soldier from Whittingham. Wind- 
ham county, Ct., who had taken land 
given to the soldiers in the "military 
tract." and who finallv became "a 
traveling tinker and mender ;.nd a 
poor farmer," and that his sons spent 
most of their time hunting and hsh- 
ing, usually in harvest time crossing 
Seneca lake to work for farmers in 
Romulus. That was what brought Brigham over 
here when lie met Smith and at once became his 
foll.iw.-r. 

Mail Carriers on horseback in the early 
"twenties" of the past century delivered at Seneca 
Falls the earliest overland mail pouches coming 
across the state of New York. Their task was neither 
easy or profitable and the roads they followed, some 
of them nothing but bridle tracks, were execrable. 
The mail on arriving at .Albany by boat was placed 
in charge of a character known as "dum your skin," 
(his favorite expression) Sprague. At .Amsterdam 
(then Port Jackson) Sprague's wife took the mail 
going west as far as Fort Davton, where Jason Parkei 




Loaned liy Haiuiiii>nd & flaiiiiuond. 

CARR'S HOTEL AND ARNETT MILL, .\HOUT 1S.50 (from a poor photo). 



••CRIPS" HISTORICAI. SOLA^ENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



iLild 



ereived the mail and carried it safely to Onondaga. 
saac Sherwood and his wife carried it west to Can- 
indaigua. Sherwood put on the first post and 
)assenger conches running between Favetteville, 
)nondagn county, and Cieneva, Ontario county, 
vhich passed through Seneca Falls. 

Rumsey Protectives. — In June, 1882, the F ire 
)c|..irtniiiit 111 Scm-ci I:(lls had a parade and in- 
pection and among the companies in line was that 
imiprising thirty-five of Rumsey's men drawing a 
liece of apparatus that the company had in its 
hipping room. With a uniform consisting of dark 
lants. white shirts, neckties alike and caps, the boys 
iiade quite a respectable appearance. They did so 
lell that on their return to the works Mr. Eugene A. 
iunisey. then manager and afterwa'ds president of 
helirm.told tliem to organize and drill and he 
iniform them and send them to the 
Itate Convention (if liremen held at 
Rochester that year. .At Rochester 
he firm furnished them a large tent 
o sleep in and boarded them at the 
iVaverly House, paying all expenses 
)oth ways and free cigars; and the 
lext pay day every man received full 
)ay for the three days he was awav. 

The company organized as the 
iumsey Protectives, Fire and Pro- 
ectiim Company, and were received 
nto the department, being assigned 
o draw Steamer No. i until 
hey had a wagon, blankets, 
juckets. chemicals, etc. completed 
md ready for their duties as Pro- 
ecti\es. As soon as thev were 
quipped Rumsey & Co. hired rooms 
or them, got them admitted to the 
tate association and sworn in as 
ptcial police at fires. Mr. Rumsey 
)rdered a fancy parade carriage, and 
vhile it was being built the bovs 
leld a fair for one week and cleared 
jver §1.000. They used this money 
o pay for the carriage and equip 
heir parlor and bunk room, which 
vas done in handsome style. Six 
nen volunteered to bunk in the 
corns, and from that time until 
hey disbanded they were one of the 
nost efficient companies in the 
iepartment. They always attended 
he state conventions and from their 
ine carriage, plush banner and 
lattv uniforms thev received the 
lame of '•The Famous Rumsey Pro- 
:ectives.'" Rumsey & Co. always 
;!ave largely toward the expense of 
ittending state conventions, and in 
;ever.il cases furnished them sleeping 
■ars without any cost to the firemen. 
\lr. Rumsey had photographs taken 
jf the members and sent them to the F'orbes Litho 



Rumsey said it was monev well expended. The 
Protecti\es uere good firemen ;ind received manv 
good words of praise from the board of engineers for 
their faithfulness and efiiciency. At the organization 
of the company William T. Smith was made foreman 
and drill master, (jeorge H. Aniidim, ist assistant 
foreman, hihI Charles ( iraham, 2nd assistant foreman. 

The Fortnightly Club was organized in iS.Sy 
by twelve women who wished to study historv and 
literature. .Meetings were held fortnightly from 
October to .April, inclusive, and the first years of its 
existence were devoted to the English poets. Its 
programs consist of papers prepared by members, 
readings from authors giving side-lights on the sub- 
ject under consideration, translations of timelv 
articles from the French, and the recitation of poems 
bearing on the topic of the dav. The Club tries to 





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»raph Co. of Boston, who arranged them in the shape 
">f a pyramid. Mr. Rumsey ordered several thousand 
^f the photos and sent them to nearly every company 
in the United States; and every piece of fire apparatus 
iold by the company, foreign or domestic, had a copy 
iif the picture enclosed. Manv foreigners sent letters 
acknowledging receipt of the picture. Mr. Fred 
Pierce, editor of the "Fireman's Herald," said thev 
were the best advertised company on the globe. It 
-■ost Run sey &• Co. nearly S5.000J but Mr. E. A. 



lioriiiwed Pliotc. KlWlt^EY I'KOTECTIVES. 

Center— Euffene A. Rnrnsey. trustee. 

Apex — W. T. Sraitli, foreman. 

Next Row— S. Woods, left; Henry Playford, ri^ht. 

Third Kow down— James Kea;^an, Frank Perkins, Juu. (I'Hare, Frank 
Shane. Charles Garlintr L. Cuiiniutfhain. 

Fourth How— H. \V. Freeland, Henj. Fetter, Wm. Hall. Byron Latti- 
mcr. F. A. Curtis. 

Fifth Kow— Norman Gott. .John Esraack, Wm. Teller, Ed.Pa^e, Henry 
, Wm. Allen, .los^^pli McKeon, Charles Payne. 

Sixth Kow— Geo. W. Murphy. Geo. H. Ainidon, first asst. foreman; 
Frank ''oliins, .James McKeon, Thomas Ginoity, Charles Graham, second 
asst. foreman; F^rank Dain, Joseph Nuireiif. 

Lower Row— David Crumb, Wm. Durnin. Marion Perkins. 

stimulate and keep alive the spirit of poetry, believ- 
ing that it will aid the rising generation immeasur- 
ably by helping to secure to it that inheritence of 
poetry which is the heart of all literature. 

The F'ortnightly has social meetings to close the 
year's work, and special meetings devoted to public 
interests are occasionally held. It has grown steadih 
in numbers and strength, and is registered at .Albanv 
as one of the Study Clubs of the state. Its constitu- 
tion limits the number of members to 25, and since 
its organization it has had but one president, Mrs. S. 
.A. Wetmore. The officers for i903-'4 are as follows; 



■•Gini>S- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




could 
free fo 
vears. 
"If 



pass (iver 
the term 



the 



un too' 
of sever 



/UgU 



Bruise. 



Loaned bv Janet Cowing. 

CAYUGA BRIDGE, IStlO (old piillt). 

View from West bank— Ca.vuga Village in the distance— Titus tavern on the 
lelt-This bridge was liegun May, 17!ttl, and completed September, 1800, costing 
jlSO.OtXi— IS luile long. 



A'ice President. Mrs. 
K. Smithwick; Treas- 



I'resident, Mrs. S. .\. Wetinnre: 
A. R. .lewell; Secretary, Mrs. M 
urer, Mrs. H. W. Yawger. 

The active members are : Mrs. Elizabeth W. .Addi- 
son, Mrs. Ella R. Carmer, Mrs. !''anny M. Ciay, .Mrs. 
Margaret T. Glen, Mrs. Helen E. Hammond, Miss 
Anna E. Henion, Mrs. Annetta R. .lewell, Mrs. Kath- 
erine M.Van Kleeck, Mrs. Mary L. Knight, Mrs. Louise 
E. Lathrop, Mrs. Caroline I'". Lester, .Mrs. Elizabeth 
C. Lester, .Mrs. .lane Orton Mead, Miss Charlotte E. 
Pollard, Mrs. Minnie L). H. Rogers, Miss. Stella V.. 
Sharp, Mrs. .\melia G. Swabv, Mrs. Evelvn Scverson, 
Mrs. Mary R. Silsby, Mrs. Mabel K. Smithwick, Mrs. 
Nellie Conner Smith, .Mrs. Sarah C. Wayne, Mrs. S. 
.Adeline Wetmore, .Mrs. Harriet W. Yawger. 

Bridges at Cayuga Lake, — [By Mrs. S. .\. 



Wetmore. 1 -The ;ict niiorporatmg 
Bridge Company was passed March 
John Jay was governor. It gave the 
company the right to build a bridge 
"over the lake or the (mtlet thereof," 
and limited the issue of stock to live 
hundred sfiares of fifty dollars each. 
Two of the five directors, Charles 
Williamson and Thomas Morris, 
were large owners of land in the 
"Great Genesee Country," as all 
Western New York was then 
termed. Mr. Williamson had built 
the road from Bath to Geneva. 
Two other directors were Josepli 
Annin of the town of .\urelius, and 
Colonel John Harris of Cayuga, who 
had established a ferry, but who 
now relinquished his rights to the 
association. The fifth director was 
Wilhelmus Mynderse, agent for the 
Bayard Company, which three years 
previous had purchased of the state 
lands on the north side of the Seneca 
outlet. The hrst treasurer of the 
Bridge company was Jacob Hallett. 
All persons were forbidden to buiUI 
other bridges or establish ferries 
within three miles of the proposed 
bridge; and after its completion all 
persons were forbidden to cross said 
lake within three miles thereof with- 
out paying the legal toll to tin- 
corporation: but "it shall be lawful 
for any perstm to pass in his own 
boat without being subject to such 
toll." All inhabitants residing 
within three miles of said bridge 



the 
i8, i; 



Cayuga 
)7, when 



bridge b( 
completed by May i, iSoi 
then the said compan; 
shall be continued tor tli( 
period of 75 years." Nov 
that the charter was satis 
factorv, work began ii 
Mav, i7Mg, and the bridgi 
was finished Sept. 4, iHoc 
Its length was one mile 
eight rods, with 22 fee 
between the trestles an( 
sufficient space in the ro.ad 
way to allow three wagon 
to move abreast. When i 
was opened for traffic thi 
event was celebrated by tlv 
hring of cannon, speeche 
and a grand procession over the new highway 
ICvidently the action of the current and the force (■ 
the ice had not entered into the calculations of tin 
builders, fiir in 1807 the bents began to settle am 
to lean towards the west. Finally the whole mas 
gave way and floated down to the marsh. Now fo 
several years travelers were dependent on the ferr; 
and on a bridge, often out of repair, which was biiil 
across the outlet a few rods above the present .Mm 
Lock. 

THE SliCOND liKIDGE 

There were numerous petitions before the legis 
lature from the inhabitants of the western countie 
of this state praying for the grant of a lottery h 
raise funds to erect a bridge across the outlet at th 
same place, and the attorney-general was directed t^ 
take legal measures to trv the validity of the com 
panv's charter rights. The company then petitiinioi 




Loaned by H. (-'. Silsb\-. 
DUNALD30N'S BALLOUN KISING FROMIFALL STKEKT THIKTY 
YEARS AG". 



"GRU'S" IIISIDI^ICAI. SOi;\'hNlU t)l' SICNKCA lALLS. 



le legislature, requesting an extension nf their 
ipital sti>ck. and agreeing to build without tlelay 
"good and substantial bridge," to be completed in 
reasonable time. They secured the passage of an 
:t which extended their rights. It allowed them to 
sue i,cx30 shares of stock at S 50 each in addition to 
le present stock of the company. All persons living 
itbin one mile were to pass over on foot at all 
mes free, and all persons going to or from public 
orship on the Sabbath at either East or West Cay- 
ga were to he exempt from the payment of toll, and 
lere was the same exemption for the passage of 
oops and artillery. Through the courtesy of Deputy 
?rretarv of State, .Mr. Mongin, I have been able to 
ive the facts concerning the Bridge Company thus 
.r from records in his i^tlice. I nitw turn to the 
)mpany's own records, their day book, and a book 
1 which are entered "The I-iesolves of the Directors 
F the Cayuga Bridge Company," by their secretary, 
)hn Haggertv; Isaac Pierson held 500 shares and 
as doubtless president of the company. James 
ennett, a pioneer at the lake, and Daniel Mcintosh 
f Cavuga, each held 50 shares. Col. Mynderse and 
tephen N. Bavard together held Sj and Elijah 
liller of Auburn, held 40. Mr. .Miller was the com- 
anv's lawver and the da. book shows that he 
:ceived a fee of Sioo for going to .-\lbany in .March, 
H14, on "business relating to the bridge charter." 
1 the early fall of 1812, Col. Mynderse made con- 
■acts for lumber with .lohn Richardson and w'ith 
helps, .lov it Co. The master builder arrived and the 
d)or began. Piles were driven from the east shore 
ne third of the way across, the pile driver being 
■orked on the ice. When the ice went out a scow 
'as built and anchored at the work. Men received 
1.50 per dav, and rations of a half-pint of whiskev 
ach, to ward off the ague. As the structure 
pproached completion the .New York directors 
uirneved hither to inspect it and the next meeting 
■as held at West Cavuga, Sejjt. 2S, 1813. -\mounts 
ue contractors were now paid, William Britton, the 
jperintendent, receiving in all .§15,5X0; Richardson, 
)r lumber, S 10,000. The whole outlav for the 
ridge amounted to 836,(130. The toll received at 
he bridge across the outlet was small, for four weeks 
1 September, 1815, only -S 14.48, while the receipts at 
he long bridge from Dec. i8, 1814, to Sept. 23, 1815, 
icUisive. were .§11,376.105. 

_. tHE THIRn BRU>GE 
s->^^ 

In 1817, when work on the Erie canal began, the 
iayard company sent out circulars advertising their 
ne property at Seneca Ealls for sale. Thev had 
ead the handwriting on the wall and knew that the 
anal when hnished would turn the tide of travel 
way frijm Cayuga Bridge and the lands which they 
lad held at such extravagant prices. It was too 
rue; the long line of wagons disappeared and the 
averns found their occupation gone. The bridge 
lad a life of twenty years, and in 1S33 a third was 
luilt which found a rival in the New York Central 
iailroad. Mr. B. F. Beach of our village relates 
hat in the latter part of May, 1853, he crossed this 
tructure with a heavy load of piaster which made it 
hake violently. The night following several sec- 
ions fell into the lake, so that he was probablv the 
ast person to cross it in a vehicle. .After the bridge 
las closed to tralTic it became the resort of the Honest 
"ishermen of that day; indeed, fishing from the 
iridge was the chief source of entertainment for 
isiting strangers. Many can remember the row of 
lecaying piles which for years marked its route 
cross the lake, but now few traces remain of that 
tructure which formed the crowning glory of the old 
Ubany turnpike. 



Bloomers ; the Idea Originated at Seneca Falls ; 
Suggested bv a Male editor ; The Costume hirst 
Worn by Gerritt Smith's Daughter; Curious Cir- 
cumstances for which Mrs. Bloomer is .Authority. 
It was Mrs. Amelia Jenks Bloomer who gave the 
name that is popularly attached to the costume of a 
short skirt and Turkish trousers which once excited 
both .America and Europe. .Mrs. Bloomer disclaims 
credit for originating or first using it. She charges 
the idea to the editor of the Seneca County Courier 
— or the writer of an editorial in that paper. In 
.l.uuiary or February, 1851, she says, in an editorial 
on "Female .Attire" the writer "showed up the incon- 
venience, unhealthfulness and discomforts of woman's 
dress, and advocated a change to Turkish pantaloons 
and a skirt reaching a little below the knee." Mrs. 
Bloomer was at the time publishing a monthly paper, 
"The Lilv." [See more extended sketch of it in 
"Woman's Rights" article.] 

".\s the editor of the Courier was opposed to us on 
the woman's rights question, " writes .Mrs. Bloomer, 
"this article of his gave me an opportunity to score 
him on having gone so far ahead of us as to advocate 
our wearing pantaloons, and in my next issue I 
noticed him and his proposed style in a half-serious, 
half-playful article of some length. He took up the 
subject again and expressed surprise that 1 should 
treat so important a matter with levity. 1 replied to 
him more seriously than before, fully indorsing and 
approving his views on the subject of women's cos- 
tume. 

".About this time," continues Mrs. Bloomer, "when 
the readers of the 'Lily' and the 'Courier' were inter- 
ested in and excited over the discussion, Elizabeth 
Smith Miller, daughter of Hon. Gerritt Smith of 
Peterboro, N. Y., appeared on the streets of our 
village dressed in short skirts and full Turkish 
trousers. She came on a visit to her cousin, Eliza- 
beth Cady Stanton, who was then a resident of 
Seneca Falls. Mrs. Miller had been wearing the 
costume some two or three months at home and 
abroad. Just how she came to adopt it I have for- 
gotten, if 1 ever knew. But she wore it with the full 
approval and sanctitm of her father and husband. 
During her father's term in Congress she was in 
Washington, and the papers of that city described 
her appearance on the streets in the short costume. 

".\ few days after Mrs. Miller's arrival in Seneca 
Falls," Mrs. Bloomer goes on to s.iy, ''Mrs. Stanton 
came out in a dress made in Mrs. Miller's style. She 
walked our streets in a skirt that came a little above 
the knees, and trousers of the same material — black 
satin. Having had part in the discussion of the 
dress question it seemed proper that I should practice 
as I preached, and as the Courier man advised; and 
so a few davs later I, too, donned the new costuirre, 
and in the next issue of my paper announced that 
fact to my readers. At the outset I had no idea of 
fully adopting the style; no thought of setting the 
fashion; no thought that my action would create an 
excitement throughout the civilized world, and give 
to the stvie mv name and the credit due Mrs. .Miller. 
This was all the work of the press. I stood amazed 
at the furor I had unwittingly caused. " The press 
at once took it up, she says. Someone — she doesn't 
know who — wrote "the Bloomer" costume which 
continued to cling to the dress in spite of her eflqrts 
to have credit attach to Mrs. Miller. "Had she [Nlrs. 
Miller] not come to us in that style," says Mrs. 
Bloomer, "it is not probable that either .Mrs. Stanton 
or myself would have donned it." 

Hundreds of women all over the country, Mrs. B. 
savs, wrote her asking for the pattern; and the sub- 
scription list to "The Lily" ran up amazingly. 

Mrs. Bloomer wore the dress "some six or eight 



3" 



"GRIPS" HISTDKICAL SOLA'ENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



years, or so long as I remained in active life and until 
the papers had ceased writing squibs at my expense," 
she says. She wore it "on all occasions, at home and 
abroad, at church and on the lecture platform, at 
fashionable parties and in my business olfice." In 
all of her travels, she says, she met with nothing dis- 
agreeable or unpleasant, but was universally treated 
with respect and attention by both press and people 
wherever she appeared. 

.■\fter she had removed to the west, and had got 
out of lecturing, she donned long skirts for parties 
and entertainments. On the streets the high winds 
that prevailed there frequently mortified her by 
turning her short skirts over her head. But she per- 
severed in their use generally until hoops came into 
vogue and she found them more comfortable — "light 
and pleasant to wear and doing away with the 
necessity of heavy underskirts, which was her greatest 
objection to long dresses;" so she gradually left ofl 
the short dress. She aKf found, shr s.'i\s, th;it slif' 



half way between the knees and ankles. Underneatli 
this skirt trousers made moderately full, in fair, mild 
weather coming down to tlie ankles (not instep) and 
there gathered in with an elastic band, The shoes 
or slippers to suit the occasion. For winter or wet 
weather the trousers, also full, but coming down into 
a boot, which should rise at least three or four inches 
about the ankle. This boot should be gracefull\ 
sloped at the upper edge and trimmed with fur ot 
fancifully embroidered, according to the taste of the 
wearer. The material might be cloth, morocco, 
mooseskin, etc.. and made waterproof if desirable." 

Benjamin F. Beach, 'who taught school on Wash- 
ington street about 1853, recalls seeing Mrs. Stanton 
and Mrs. Bloomer pass in the short costume. Mrs 
Stanton then lived on the east side of Washington 
steeet in a house that has since been entireK remod- 
elled. He remembers .Mrs. Stanton as "s >niewhat 
short and thick-set" and Mrs. Bloomer "as spare ,'niil 
a trifle lallir." 




IKON MOl'LUEKS- IM(I.\ HANl,llET. 



had greater influence in her work in the dress ordi- 
narily worn by women. .\nd she also thought that 
the dress was drawing attention from subjects of 
greater importance. 

Mrs. Stanton continued to wear the dress for two 
or three years, when, according to .Mrs. Bloomer, the 
pressure brought to bear upon her bv her father 
[Judge Cadyj and other friends was so great that she 
I'mally returned to hmg skirts. 

The impression given by Mrs. liloomer's personaliity 
is best described by .Mrs. Russell Sage: "Her manner 
was unpretentious, quiet and delicately feminine. 
Her costume showed total disregard for effect, and 
was mannish only to the extent of practicability." 

The description of Mrs. Bloomer's costume, given 
by herself, is as follows: ".\ skirt leaching nearly 



-Mrs. Bloomer (maiden name Jenks) was born in 
Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., May 27, 1818, and at 1; 
years of age taught school near Clyde, .\. Y. She 
then lived with her sister at Waterloo, N. Y., .ind 
afterwards was governess in the family of Oren 
Chamberlain near that village. On .\pril 13, 1840, 
she married Dexter C. Bloomer, a practicing lawyer, 
politician and at the time one ot the proprietors ol 
the Seneca County Courier. She is described as then 
being "live feet, four inches tall and weighed about .-i 
lumrired pounds." The next day they took up their 
residence at Seneca Falls. She very soim began 
writing for the press on current topics- and was 
active in temperance work. In 1842 Mr. and Mrs. 
Bloomer were baptized and confirmed in the Episco- 
pal church by Bishop D"lancey. Both became 
prominent workers in that society. 



"CiRll'S' IIISrORICAI. S(K!VKN1R Ol' SKNl'.CA KAI.I.S. 



3' 



In Decpmber, 1833, they removed tn Mt. ^■^rn^ln, 
)., ^]ifi"ded hence by a public fiirewcll ol iiiaiiy InciiiK 
,t Union Hall. There she fnially sold out "Tlir 
,ilv." In 1833 thev tO(d< up their residence at 
Council Uluffs, la., where Mrs. I'lootncr died Dec. jo, 
894. 

Postmasters; the localinns they severall\ 
electrd for tin- ..iHce.— It was not until 1816 that a 
[overnment postoffice was established at Seneca 
'alls, although it is probable that letters had been 
eceived prior to that time. The list of postmasters 
ind dates of their appointment, obtained from W'.ish- 
ngton by Mr, C, W, Combs (who also furnished for 
his work the record of the several locations of the 
)OStoHice herein described I, is as follows: — 

.\bijah .Mann. jr.. Mar. 13, 1816, 

Wilhehnus .Mynderse, .Mar, 2. 1820. 

John .Morgan. I'eb. 17, 183 1. 

Isaac I'uller, .lulv 26. 1X41; second app. Mar, 27. 
861, 

Josiah T. .Miller. Mav i(). 1845; second app. \I,iv 4. 

853- 
Dexter C Bloomer. April I'l 

849. 

Simeon Helton. .-Vpril 13. i860 

John B. Murrav. Mar. 13, 1871 

Stephen Weatherlow, Feb. 2. 
880; re-appointJfi for seci^nd 
arm Feb. ly, 1884. 

Henry Stowell. Nov, 28. 1SS3: 
econd term .lune 17. 1893. 

Jasper X. Hammond. .\pr. 2 ',. 
888. 

Charles '1'. .Andrews, .\pr. 4. 
892. 

Harry M. (il.n. July i. iS,,S. 

The lirst authentic rec-ord we 
ia\e r)f the location of the post- 
)tlice was during the term of John 
dorgan who liu'ated it in a one- 
tory building that stood when- 
he grocery store owned b\' S, 1.. 
donroe now stands. Isaac Fuller, 
lis successor, removed the cffice 
o a two-storv brick building 
vhich occupied .the site of the 
jresent Seneca House, and later 
o a brick building across t-he 
treat now owned bv R. (iolder 
ind occupied b\' .Mrs. I'^. M. Cox 
■ralick, where it remained until 
he expiration of the ter.ii of his 
uccessor Josiah T. .Miller. Dexter 
r. Bloomer, who fcjllowed Miller, 
emoved the otHce to a small 
ranie building on Cayuga street 
ust north of the present C. L. 
daskins building. The next 
:hange in postmasters, the appointment of Josiah T, 
Uiller a second time, saw the office back where Mr. 
Uiller had placed it during his first term, .\gain a 
change of postmasters, also a change of location, 
saac Fuller, appointed the second time, moved the 
iffice to the Shipp building on the south side of F'all 
street, now occupied by (ieorge & Co. I lerc it 
eniained during two incumbencies — FuIIit ,in<l 
Simeon Holton, when (ien. John B. Murray, receiving 
he appointment of postmaster, moved tlie olTice to 
he I'lui'iiix block, where it remained until 1890 when 
t w.-is burned out in the great lire of tliat year, 
luring the term of Jasper N. Hammond. Until new 
quarters could be prepared for it in the \'an Cleef 
luilding which Mr. Hammond I'lrst selected for the 



|iostoffice, his law olln !■ furnistied temporary quarters. 
i he ne.vt and last rnuoxal of llic jjostofhce was to 
Its jiresent con\enieut loralion, ,'dso selected diu'ing 
.Mr. Hammond's term. 

Jr. O. U. A. M. — (ieneral Mmray Council. No.f)8. 
.lunior Older of United American Mechanics of the 
state of New York, incorporated, was organized 
.March 20. 184(1. with 42 charter members and tlie fol- 
lowing officers: .lunior Past Couuiilor. I lenrs 
Urquhart; Councilor. Clarence F, Sutton; Vice 
Councilor, William \V. Wicks; Recording Secretarv. 
Howard C. Lewis; .\ssistant Recording Secretary, 
.loel I'. Troutman; Financial Secretary, lidward 
lobes; Treasurer, Lewis W. |olinson: Conductor, J. 
Ir.ink Marsden; Warden, Charles J. ICvans; Inside 
Sentinel, Warren M. Leland; Outside Sentinel. Jesse 
M. .Smith; 1 rustees. Cieorge H. .\madon, Cieorge N. 
Reck and J. Deniing Hoardman. The officers weie 
installed bv State Deputy Jenkins of Svracuse. The 
hrst place of meeting was G. A. R. Hall, which was 
occupied until November, 19O2, when the order 
moved to the Radder block where they have fitted up 




Prud'eo. I'liutu. 

GEN, Ml.TKRAY CdUNCIL, N(l. BS, JR. <l. V . A, M. 
Top Row (left to rijfht)-C, G. Evans, P, ('.; Rol>t. Mills, O. S.: George H, 
Amsilnn. P. C; Fllmore Harper, I, S.; Tiarence I. Goons, P. C. Second Row 
(left to riiiht)— Clarence E. Sutton. P. C, trustee; Edward D.Moore. J. P. C; 
Fred G, Rorisou, F, S,; Fred H Durlinfj, Con.; Harry B. Soper, P. C, tniBtee; 
Fred Clark, P. C. Third Row (left to rialit)— A. C. Saeki-lt, treas.: WjDiain W. 
Wicks, V. C; Charles Sabin, councillor; Claude Palmer. K. S.; William F, 
Moore, A.H. S. Lower Row— (left to right)— William li, Hililiard, warden; 
William H. Barton, P. C. 

(dub rooms. .Xfliv tia\*iiig p;iid o\er §1200 in sick 
heiiehts and o\er -Sjooo in funeral benefits the order 
h;is a subsl;iiitial bahance in the treasur\'. 

The order now tias 109 members, the following 
deaths having occurred: .Andrew C, Henion, F'recl 
S. Brignall, Frank Bridenbecker, Nathaniel .S.Bailey, 
C. Herbert Facer, Fred C. Hedges, Charles H, Palmer, 
Norm.'in C. Leslie and Georgi Hibbanl. 



Cayuga Indian Names. 

Cavugas country — (iwe- U- gweh 
mucky land. 

Ithaca— Ne-o-(l;ik-he-at, at the end of the lake, 

Cavuga lake — Gwe-u-gweh T {i, e, Te-car-na-o 
a lake), meaning lake at the mucky land. 

.Aurora — De-a-weu-dote, constant dawn. 



no- ga, the 



di. 



••c;RIP'S" historical souvenir ok SKNKCA I'AI.I.S. 



Canoga [and its site] — Ga-no-geh, oil floating on 
the water. 

Cayuga bridge — Was-gwas. long bridge. 

Montezuma — [also Savannah village] —Te-car-jik- 
ha-do, place of salt. 

Waterloo — Skoiyase, place of Whortleberries. 

Seneca River — Swa-geh G, (i.e. Ga-hun-da, a river, 
creek or stream), meaning flowing out. 

Clyde river — Cia-na-gweh G. (river), river at a 
\iUage suddenlv sprung up. 

.Auburn — Dwas-co, floating bridge. 

Otter lake — Squa-yen-na T (lake), a great ways. 

Muskrat creek — Squa-ven-na G (river), same. 

CJwasco outlet — De-a-go-ga-ya G, place where men 
were killed. 

Owasco lake — Dwas-co T, lake at the llnating 
bridge. 

North Sterling creek — Dats-ka-he G, hard talking 
stream, from a grinding noise. 

Sodiis Pia\ creek — Te-ga-hone-sa-o-ta. a child in a 
babv frame. 

Union Springs- — Cie-wa-go, (promontory) land 
pushing into w.ater. 




Pruden, Photo. CROSS POST, NO. Ts, G, A. R. 

Top Row (left to right)— .lanieB Hart on, O. M. Ser^-t.; 
nel; M. L. Waldo, (). D.; K. S. Ganounii, Chap. Lower Ki 
William Marion, S. V. Ctim.; Licorge V. Stevenson, Com.; 
V. Com.; P. W. Bailey. Adjt. 

Ontario lake — Frontcnac, French; Cadarqual, 
Dutch; Oshwakee, Onondaga; Ohndeara, Seneca: 
I,ac Ontario im des Iroqnois, French Jesuits: Lake of 
Fntouhonrous, Champlain. 

Sr)dus Hav — (ianantio, Cavugas. 

County Judges. (Dates given are when elected: 
vears of ser\"ice ,are following vears including \"ear in 
which successor was elected.) Cornelius Humphrey, 
1K04; Benjamin Pelton elected in 1809; Oliver C. 
Comstock, 181 2: John Kno.\, 1815; John McLean, jr., 
1818: Luther V. Stevens, 1823; Jesse Clark, 1833- 
James K. Uichardsi;>n, 1847; John ¥.. Seeley, 1851; 
Sterling G. Hadley, 1855; Cieorge Franklin, 1859; 
Josiah T. Miller, 1863; George F'ranklin. 1867; Gil- 
bert WilcMxen, 1871; George Franklin, 1877; Peter 
H. \'an.\uken, 1883; Wm. C. Hazelton, 1889; John 
IC. Richardson (present incumbent). 1895: re-elected 
1 90 1. 



County Clerks. — (Dates given are when elected: 
years in service include following year and year in 
which successor was elected.) Silas Halsey, i8o4,'i5: 
.\lvah Gregory, 1813: Jehiel H. Halsey, i8iq; John 
.Maynard, 182 1, '22. Ernest A. Dunlap, 1825; .Mather 
.Marvin, 1828; John H. Sabine, 1830; Seba .Murphv, 

: Wm. .\. Strong, 1835; Halsey Sanford, 1838; 

Cyius D. Hanks, 1841, Daniel H. Brvant, 1844: 
Ehenezer IngoUs, 1847; Hugh Mcmtgomerv, 1830: 
Isaac I'^uller, 1853; Charles W. IngersoU, 1856; Wm. 
U. Smith, i8jq; Jared Sanford, 1862: John B. Mur- 
ray, 1865: Calvin Willers, 1S68: Hugh .Montgomerv, 
1871; Samuel S. Gulick, 1874; Edward Nugent, 1877, 
'89: Peter D. Post, 1880: Chauncey L. Becker, 1883: 
.\bram Wilson. 1886: Hugh Mi'Ghan, 1892; Charles 
D. Becker, 1893; Patrick Savage, 1898, 1901. 

Surrogates. — Jared Sanford, 1804, '13: John 
Sayre, 1811; Wm. Thompson, 1815, '21; Luther F. 
Stevens, i8iq; Samuel Birdsall, 1827; Jehiel H. Hal- 
sey, 1837; John Morgan, 1843. Countv Judge and 
Surrogate then Were combined. 

The Hanging of George Chapman and Charles 
Johnson were the only occasions 
when capital punishment was 
mflicted In Seneca countv. Both 
t took place at Waterloo. 'I'he ■ 

hanging of "Indian John" for a 
murder connnitteti in the present 
limits of this countv [See sketch 
elsewhere] was over in Aurora. 
All of this territory was then 
t.":iyuga county. Chapm.-m was 
iianged by SheiilT James Rorison 
i>n the river lank in Waterln.i 
May 28, 1829, for killing Daniel 
Wright. It was a \me spring 
day early in the morning that the 
I'ayette Rifles, a local company, 
escorted the prisoner fiom the 
jail across the publ c square t<» 
what is now Locust street to the 
gallows erected near the river. 
He walked erect up the steps to 
t^^H the platform, although he \\:is 

yKm inhrm. .Aaron D. Lane was the 

jR minister who gave him spiritual 

^g Comfort. Finally the sherilf 

handed Chapman a red bandanna 
handkerchief and when he 
dropped it his bodv shot down 
through the trap and he was 
soon dead. Thousands of people 
came to town in all sorts of 
\ehicles, a procession from the 
adjacent country which was kept up all night. They 
thronged the banks of the river and the bridge, and 
the roofs and windows of nine stores on .Main street 
were black with people. .\ big locust tree standing 
near the gallows was black with people in its 
branches. 

Johnson in more recent vears was h;mged .Now 15, 
1888, in the jail at Waterloo for killing the keeper's 
assistant, John Walters, in that place, while he and 
other prisoners were tr\'ing to escape b\' rushing b\' 
him. 

State Senators from Seneca Co. — (Vears of 
service) ,Sil,is I la Ki-v.!.! idi, iSo.,; John Knox, Waterloo, 
i8i7-'2o; Jesse Clark, Waterloo, i823-'3: Jehiel 11. 
Halsev, Lodi, i832-'5: John .Maynard, Seneca Falls, 
i838-'4o: Henrv B. Stanton, Seneca l'"alls, 1830-'!: 
T'ruman Boardman, Ccvert, iK58-'9; Wm. Johnson, 
Seneca Falls, i872-'3; David H. Evans, Tvre, iS82-'8; 
William L. Sweet. Waterloo, 1888-9. 



E. E. Waldo, Senti 
iw (left to risfht)- 
William Durnin, .1 



"Cl^ll'S llISTdl^ICAI. St)rVKMK ()!■ SKNKCA FALLS. 



Cross Corps, No. lo, W. R. C. — Prominent 

.-inKing the foremost ranks of tfie State Department. 
Wonians Relief Corps, stands Cross Corps No. lo, of 
Seneca Falls. In June, 1H83, Mrs. Charles Handnlph 
caused to be put in the county papers a call for the 
assembling of soldiers' wives ,inii daughters which 
resulted in the organization of Cross Corps No. 10, 
auxiliarv of Cross Post No. 78. We received our 
charter and worked under National orders until the 
State Department was formed in 1884. The charter 
members of Corps Xo." 10 were: Imogene L. Guion. 
X'irginia N. Havens, Jennie P. Shepard. Fmma 
Kuthrauff, Ruth Perry, Nellie Sherman, Jennie Tim- 
merman. Kli/abeth .\dams, Celia B. Randolph, 
l.ibbie r. Demorest, Susan K. Travor, Jennie C. 
McDutTe, Hannah K. Waldo, \'ashti F. Smith, Fred- 
rica Brown, C>rnelia Fegley and Helen Girioiix. 

Both Post and Corps were named in honor ol 
William Cross and his hve sons, all of whom served 
111 the en il war. The ladies who have held the oftice 
of president of Corps No. 10. since its forni.ition are 
as follows: Imogene L. tiuioii, 
iSS5-'88; Libbie Demorest Fck 
i88q; Imogene L. Guion, i8qo_ 
1)1; Jennie (i. Scott, i8i)2, 'qy. 
Jennie 1'. Shepard. i8cj4-.g8; 
Imiiiii.i Kuthioff, 18114; Hannah 
.Stevenson, igoo-'oj. This Corps 
has been honored e\ery year with 
high positions among the state 
olhcers, .Mrs. Jennie P. Shepard 
ha\ing served 15 years in the 
various positions of state treas- 
urer, state secretary, state presi- 
dent ami other minor otlices; 
Mrs. Imogene I.. Guion, state 
senior vice president, junior vice 
president, department chaplain 
and various minor ollices: .Mrs. 
riissa P. McDonald as state 
secretarv during the year of iqoj: 
and many other members ,is 
n.ational and department aids. 
The Corps .lumbers about Oj 
members. Its officers are: Presi- 
dent, Hannah Stevenson; S. \ 
President, Mary E. Springsted; j. 
\'. President, Phene Morehouse; 
Secretarv. Jennie B. Rhodes; 
Treasurer, Imogene L. Guion; 
Chaplain, Jane Coons; Con- 
ductor. ICIizalieth Johnson; 
(iuard, Harriet Humphrey; .\sst. 
Con., Francis Faston; Asst. 
Guard, .-Vnnie Rovston; Color Bearers, Samantha 
Relfe, Rose Lotherington, Helen Race and Maria 
Phalen; Musician, Alice Johnson; Press Correspond- 
ent, Mary F. Springsted; Patriotic Instructor, Julia 
Newland (under whose administration the flags have 
been placed in our public schools and the flag salute 
adopted in some of the school rooms). .Another 
feature of our work is the placing of Independence 
charts in the various schools of the village. Through 
the aid and efforts of Corps. No. 10, hve aged and 
dependent wives or mothers of veterans have been 
prov ided with homes in theirold age and a demented 
daughter of a soldier has been placed in the State 
Home for the Feeble Minded. 

Skoiyase was the name of the Indian village 
whicli stood upon the site of Waterloo. 'I'he Eng- 
lish and Dutch terms were respectively Skaigee, long 



falls, and Shaiyus, large falls. Other orthography 
used are Schoyerre, Scawyace, Scauwaga, Schuvers 
and Skavvayes. Skoiyase, place of whortleberries, 
was the most generally accepted name (pronounced 
Skoies.l It was the great fishing market t.iwn of 
the Cayugas, a cluster of wigwams partly concealed 
in a large tract of berry bushes, with clearings here 
and there where corn and vegetables were raised, and 
on the north orchards of apples and peaches. 

Duiing the hshing seasons Indians from neighbor- 
ing tribes built their fires on the flats south of the 
river. Councils of the several tribes were frequently 
held here, w here under a group of trees, which were 
standing when the settlers first came, the Senecas 
and Cavugas took council for defense against Cham- 
plain who attacked them in 1615. Traces of fish 
ponds made in the sand beds of the river channel 
and the soft mucky shores, by Indians, were seen as 
late as 1813, and remains of eel weirs used by the 
Indians were found later. The great numbers of 
various kinds of fish that were caught here, included 
salmon, c;itfish. b.iss and r.l. Salt from the s|nings 




Prudon, Pliolo. WOMAN'S HELI?:K CdUPS. CUDS.S CORPS, No. 1 ■. 

Tup ttow (li-ri to rigliti— Maria Phalon, Color Rearer; Rosellen I.utherins- 
ton. Color Bearer: Mhinie Uoystiin, Guaid: Helen Gould Itace. Color Bearer; 
Sainuntlia Kelfe, Color Beater. .Miilcile Kow— .lane Coons. Clmp ; .lennie P. 
Sbeparii, P. Dept. Pies.; Hanuiih Stevenson, Pios.: Mary Sprinjisieil, Sen. 
Vice-Pres.; Pliena Moorhouse, Jr. Vice-Pres. Lower Kow— .lennn' Tiiiimei- 
man. Con.: Alice .lohnson. Pianist. 

near the foot of Cayuga lake was used for curing, 
the fish then being strung on poles and hung in the 
sun, after which they were ready for transportation 
with the families returning home. 

District Attorneys (Years of service) Lemuel 
W. Ruggles, i8]8-'2i; Jetse Clark, i822-'3b; John 
Maynard, 1837; FUisha Foote, Jr., i838-'43; Joseph 
Herron, i844-'f): Samuel Birdsall,iS47; David H<!rron, 
i848-'50, '34-'h: Wm. H. Burton, 1830 (not in oHice); 
Josiah r. .Miller, i8ji-'3, 'bo-'i; James K. Richardson, 
i857-'9; Addison T. Knox, 1859 (not in oflice); Wm. 
C. Hazelton, i863-'3, '81 -'3; Fred L. Manning, 
i86f)-'7i; Patrick J. Rogers, 1872-4, '-8-'8o; Wm. V. 
Bruyn, i873-'7: Corydon Rood, iS84-'6; Francis C. 
.■\llen, i887-'9, '93-'j; Geo. W. Pontius, i89o-'2: 
Charles C. Johnson, iSgb-'S; Daniel Moran, 1899- 
1901; Wm. H. Hurley, 1902-4. 



34 



■•Ckll'S' HISTOUICAI. SOrVEXlR OF SKNICCA FALLS. 



W. C. T. U. — When the work of organizing the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union reached 
Seneca Falls there was a ready response. At a 
meeting held in the Presbyterian church Mrs. Cruni. 
the pastor's wife, presided. Tlie association was 
represented at the state convention first at Syracuse. 
and later at the national convention held in Cleve- 
land. Committees appointed for that purpose visited 
the saloons where they praved and entreated saloon 
men to stop the sale of intoxicants. At one place 
the proprietor met them with these words: "Perhaps 
vou think me the worst man on earth. 1 sold my 
farm and bought this hotel intending to keep a 
temperance hotel. The public demanded drinks. 
To n\ake it pav 1 yielded. " .\nd, said he patheti- 
cally, "If I could recall the past and be placed back 
on the farm, I would be willing to be skinned from 
mv head to niv heels rather than engage in it. " 

.\t one time we had o\er a hundred indictments 
against the saloons. F'.lection day an all-day prayer 
meeting was held. Through the inlluencr of a prom- 
inent business man who, acted out of sympathy for 
"th( se unmi-n" incliidini^r hi^ wife .iiul d.iiiL^lit'-is. the 



planted a tree at the home of one of f)ur members 
and named it ".Meracle," after our president who was 
then sick at the hospital in Rochester. We observe 
.lune 9, Jennie Cassidy's birtiiday, th? national day 
for decorating white ribboners' graves of whom there 
are eleven in the cemetery. Our superintendent of 
llower and relief work has been an in\'alid for over 
sixteen years. Through the "Shut In Society," she 
corresponded with .lennie Cassidy and afterwards 
sent her a beautiful silk quilt which she had pieced 
and embroidered. .lennie Cassidy laid ^iside her 
scruples for only white and accepted the gift. .After 
her death it was sent to the hospital. Mary Lowe 
Ditkerson, the authoress, who was deeply touched at 
this incident which she reported in the "Silver Cross," 
said she would love to lie under the quilt under 
which Jennie Cassidy lay when dying. Her 
wish was gratified sooner than she expectrd, for she 
was taken sick at Louisville where she was to 
lecture, and at the hospital lay threi- weeks sick 
imder this precious meniori;d. 

We vearlv send comfort bags and litiTalmc t<i bo\s 
in the armv and navy and supplies to tlie temp nance 
li'ispital at ChiiaiTo. 




WdMANS CHRIS'IMAN TEMPKR.VNCE INION. 



I'ruik-u, Photo. WdMAN'S CHRIS'IMAN TEMPKRANCE TNION. 

Top Row lieH to right) — Mrs. Etta Van Dyke, Mr.s. olrasteat, White Riblion Supt., Mrs. Timmerman, 
Kvang'elistic; Mrs. Parmelee, Press Supt.; Mrs. Jane Couns. Siipt. Parhir Meeting; Mrs. Norton, Literature. 
Lower Row (left to rishf)— Mrs. Hattie Enos; Mrs. Blain, Supt. Non-Aleoholie; Mrs. Meraele. Pres.: Mrs. 
<'oopur. Secy.; Mrs. Scott, Supt. Curfew. 



town went <ir\'. More systematic plans were then 
formulated to carry on the contest against the powers 
of darkness and death. Rooms were furnished and 
a public library begun, forming an incentive for a 
town library which is now established. The fire of 
iSyo, which destroyed so much property in F'all 
street, broke out in a sah-)on just above our nxims. 
We lost our furniture, but nothing daunted we 
began over again. We had I-'. .A. Burdick here to 
lecture for two weeks on temperance and our bill was 
ninety dollars. He was followed by other lecturers. 
We are engaged in nine branches of work out of the 
thirty-eight. Our work for the .\ncliorage at Elmira, 
the home for friendless and fallen womanhood, is in 
connection with our county work. We are to help 
build and furnish a room to be named Seneca, and 
any one we may (if necessary) ihoose to send from 
Senec.'i county will be cared for. 

.\t the fair grounds at Waterloo last year we dis- 
tributed over i.orx) pages of temperance literature 
with known grand results. On .\rbor Dav we 



We canv.issed the town, got over seventeen hun- 
dred names to our petition and secured the curfew 
law. 

Our j.>resent officers are Mrs. L. .Meracle president, 
.Mrs. Blaine vice president, .Mrs. Cooper recording 
secretary, .Mrs. F^nos corresponding secretary and 
Mrs. Donna Freeland treasurer; the superintendents 
.are Mrs. Fannie Hudson- Parmelee press work, Mrs. 
Olmstead white ribbon, .Mrs. Vandyke non-alcohol 
medication, Mrs. Norton literature, Mrs. Boucher 
llower and relief work, .Mrs. Wm. Scott curfew, Mrs. 
Nellie Smith Sunday school, Mrs. Coons parlor meet- 
iiii^ ami \Tis. Timmerman e\'angelistic. 

Assemblymen — (Sir names in alphabstical order; 
years in service.) — .\rmstroiig, Thomas, 1820. 

Bostwick, Daniel W. 1S29: Blain, Samuel 1830: 
Bockho\'en, Peter 18J4: Barnum. Caleb 1JS33; Bige- 
low, .lolm L. 1S37: Bascom, .\nsel 1M47; Bolter, Alfred 
1 8 ^o. 



"GRIPS' IllSroKICAl. SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



^5 



Comstock, Oliver C. 1810, 12; Cm-, John IX 
i834-'5; Chamberlin, Jacub P. iS-jq; Childs, A. L. 
1877; Clark, Will. B. 1S85: Cnisliv, Dr. .1. F. elected 
igo"j for 1904. 

I iox. Myndert .M. 1S18; Dickson, .lames 1822; De 
M(.u, James 1825; De Mott, John 1833; Dodge, 
Reuben D. 18^2-'^: Daniels, Cien. B. 1865; Dunham. 
W. H. i8St), '91. 

Evans, Septimus i82g-'^o: Ivvnns, David H. 
i87i)-'8o. 

(ireen, .\rcher 1817; Cilover, Andrew 1828; tik-n, 
!l.irrv M. i8q4-'5, '97; tiould, Moses C. 1899. 

Humphrey. Cornelius i8o6-'7; Halsey, Xichol 1816; 
Hendricks, Benjamin 1826; Holnian, Daniel 1S41; 
lladley, Sterling fi. 1853; Hall, John C. i860; Hazle- 
lon. \Vm. C. 1874; Hogan, Win. 1873. 

Juhnson, Wm. 1861; Johnson, W. T. 1864; Jones. 
Ceo. W. 1884. 

Keiley, Wni. C. 1842: Kennedy. John 1848; Kendig, 
Daniel S. 1833; Kimie, Wm. H. 1892; '96- Kaiser, 
John 1901. 

l.ar/elere, Jacob I,. i8if)-'i7; Leller, David D. 186S; 
Lott, Peter 1872: Leverich, Steplieii D. i8Sf,; l.ar- 
/elere, Israel Y. 1900. 

M.C.iU. James 18.19, i8i3-'i4: 
MaMiard, John 1822; Markell, 
J.icob G. 1849: McLean, James 
18(13: Martin, James M. 1888; 
M.i.ui. D. W. i(jo2-'3; Miller. 

1 .siali 1. iSh.j. 

( )\ven, lienson ifS37. 

Post. Lewis i8f.(), 7(1; Patters.iii 
Alberi M. 1882. 

IvoM", Robert S. 1811. 'jo-'i. 
k'liciad, DanieL 182^. 27; R.iger-,. 
P. J. 1.883. 

S:iver, John 1803, '08, '31; Sut- 
inri, John 1818; Seely, Jonas [823- 
'4: Srott, Daniel i82f'-'27, '29; 
Simpson. Henry 1836: Sutton, 
Helini 1844: Stevenson, Robert 
L. 1845: Southwick. Orrin 1831; 
Steele, Robert R. 1832, '70: S (itt. 
David 1). 1834: Sweet, Wm. 1.. 
18S7; Stevens, John H. 18 )o. 

Thompson, William iSi()-'i9. 

2 1; Tubbs.John G. 1836; Thomas. 
James B. 18^(1; Ten Evck, San- 
ford R. 1871". 

\'an Meet. Peter J. i8fi2-'8: ^'an 
Demark. Wm. W. 1873; \'an De 
.Mark, Henrv 1893: \'an Rensse- 
laer, Wm. V; 1898." 

Woodcock, David 1813; Wells. .Vnanias i.Si,.|, ' 2 y. 
Woodvvorth. Erastus 1824, '28, '32; WoodruH, Benj. 
1831: Wakeman, Nathan 1838; Welles, Clardner 183(1; 
Wilkinson. Orange W. 1840; West, Mathew 1843; 
Wood\vi>rth. .\lanson i84(,: Woodworth, .\ugustus 
1858: Welles Samuel R. i8(,7, '81: Willersjr., Died- 
riiii 187S. 

Liberal toward ref<->riii nio\'emenls was Seneca 
Falls in its early history and it became widely known 
throughout the I'nited States as the home of the great 
liberal thinkers — Lucretia Mott. the Quakeress 
preacher. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, .\melia Jenks 
Bloomer, .Ansell Bascfim and Francis Tellman. Its 
liberality in all reform movements had become widely 
known. Hence the conventions that were frequently 
held here. "Women's Clubs" first became the most 
active at this place between 1831 and '33. Tlie 
ladies above mentioned getting their ideas Ironi the 
life of Margaret Fuller Ossoli who bad conducted 
women's clubs in Boston, very largel\' carried out the 



plan of club work in Seneca Falls as it was then 
done in Boston. Woman's clubs — but of a literary 
and musical character — have since floiii islu-d in 
Seneca Falls. 

Seneca (.Grange, .\'o. 44, P. of H., was organized 
Dec. 2}, 1873, at the home of the late Lyman F. Crow- 
ell, with the late Wm. G.Wayne the ist master and the 
following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. .M. 1'^ l',urt- 
less. .Mr. ami Mrs. I . F. Crowell, Mr. .in.l Mrs. Wm. 
Savage, Mr. and .Mrs. Stephen .Savage, .Mr. ami .Mr^. 
Chas. Seekell, Mr. and .Mrs. David King. Mr. and Mis. 
X. H. Mfctc-ilf, Misses Elizabeth Wayne, Julia Wayne, 
Georgie Crowell and Messrs. Harvey Benhani, Henrv 
Bull, S. T. Beach, Wm. H. Wayne and C. A. Beiiliani. 
The Grange now has 82 members. The lollowing 
are the officers: Master, Wm. T. Bea<'li: Overseer, 
Remington Hill; Lecturer, L. Foster Crowell- Chap- 
lain, Mrs. Susanna King; Treasurer, Joel I'uller; 
Secretary, Mrs. V. L. Seekell; Steward, Mrs. Thoma-. 
Morgan; .\. Steward, 1), (.1. Stevenson; L. .\.Stew;ird. 
Mrs. L. Bentlev: Gate Keeper. Mrs. Joel Fuller; 




SKNECA GKANGK, 
Pomona, .Mrs. |. 



44, 1' 

King 



Mis. J. \ K 



Ceres, Mrs. Remington Hill; I'.xecutivc Ci'iii., W 111. . T 
Be.-ich, N. G. Seekell and I. V. I.arzelere. 

Genealogy ■'! S( nc a cMuntx'. .and town ami \il 
lage ol Ssnec.'i hails. [See I'owns, their erection. | 

Nov. I, 1683, New York province erected into the 
counties of .•\lbany, Dutchess, Kings, New York. 
Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suflolk, Ulster and West- 
chester. 

.March 22, 1772, Tryon county was erected irum 
.\lbanv counlv. (.April j. 17s). changed tc. .Mmit- 
gomery county.) 

March 8, 1773, Kingslaiul district was erected from 
Trvon county. 

March 7, 1788, Whitestown erected from Kiiigsland, 
including all of the state west of L'tica. 

Feb. U>, 1791. Herkimer county erected from Mont- 
gonierv [formerly Tryon] county. 

March 3, 1794, Onondaga erected from Herkimer, 

.March 8, 1799, Cayuga from Onondaga. 

.March 29, 1S04, Seneca frniii Ca\iig;i with the fol- 



■UUU' S' Ills lORICAl. SOUVENIR OF SKNKCA FALLS. 



lowing named towns: Junius, Fayette, Romulus, 
Ovid, Hector and Ulysses. 

July 12, 1782, military tract laid out, including 
military town of Junius, No. 11 

Feb. 12, 1803, the county township of Junius 
erected from the military town of Junius. 

March 26, 1829, Seneca Falls erected from the town 
nf Junius. 

-\pril 22. i8y, Seneca F'alls village incorporated. 

Powhatan Lodge No. 310, I. O. O. F. — Installa- 
tion of Odd Fellowship in Seneca F'alls was first 
attempted over half a century ago. In 1845 Hyper- 
ion lodge. No. ]8o, was brought into existence with 
the following officers: \V. AL (irand, William Lang- 
worth; \'ice Grand, Horace C. Silsby; Secretary, 
Abee fiowen: W., B. Owens: C, ^L L. Bellows; O. G., 
C. Hibbard; I. Ci., 'riioiiias Carr; R. S. X. G, Isaac 
Fuller; L. S. N. G.,William Arnett; R. S. V. G., H. H. 
Heath; L. S. V. G., J. W. Whalen; R. S. S,. E. G. Tyler; 
all of whom, with the exception of H. C. Silsby. 



have long 



"joined that innumerable caravan 



L. U. li. A., 
was again 




I'rudfn, I'hDtii. HdWHATAN i,tlL)GK, No :il(l, I. o. ( 1. K. 
Top Kow (li'ft to iitfht)— Charles Baldwin. William Hull' 

, Clias. W. Combs, William lierr.v, Thomas Gr 

Row— Asa Timmermaii, .Jtiseph Babeock, Claud Sanderson. 
John Monarehy. Lower flow— George W. Drew, Andrew 
Bauer. 

ami m(t\'ed Id that iin'sterious realm where each has 
taken his ch.ainlier in the silent halls of death." 
This lodge was disb.aiided in 1S50 and from then 
until 1H72 ther° was no lodge of the order in .Seneca 
Falls. On March jtli of that year Powhatan lodge, 
No. 310, was instituted under a dispensation fouii 
the Grand Lodge by 1). I). G. .M„ C. A. Runyaii, of 
Canandaigua lodge No. 326 assisted bv members t>f 
Clifton Springs lodge No. 286 and Old Castle lodge 
No. 29') of Cieneva. The charter was not granted 
however until the 22(1 of the following .Vugust, after 
the annu.-il meeting of the State Grand Lodge. The 
charter members of the Powhatan lodge were: Lewis 
W. Lull, Lyman '['. Moore, Maurice !■'. O'Connor, Chas. 
H. Moore, Chas. F. Itrady and Robert Sickle. The first 
olhcers were: Noble (Jrand, Thomas J. Crosby; Vice 
Grand, Charles F. Brady; Secretarv, Maurice V. 
O'Connor; Treasurer, Lewis W. Lull; W., L. T. 
Moore: C, C. H. Moore; O. G., Loran Demonce: I. G., 



M. Fox; K. S. N. G., B. S. Nichols; L. S. N. G., Chas, 
N. Van Cleef; R. S. \'. G., Ira L. Nichols: L. S. V'. G., 
AsaTimmerman; R. S. S., Isaac B. Race; L. S. S.C.J, 
\Villiam; Secretary, Robert Sickle. The first by-law5 
were drawn up bv the following committee appointed 
for thi- purpose: Charles W. \'an Cleef. Lyman T, 
-Moore and Lewis W. Lull. The lodge like all other* 
has had its seasons of prosperity and adversity, bul 
through it all it has maintained its standing and 
iluring the ]i \ears of its existence has exerted an 
influence for good in the community, and as an 
evidence of this it may be stated that it has been 
instrumental in instituting sex-en lodges. These are: 
Willard Lodge No. 311, i>f Ovid, 1873; Lodi Lodge 
No. 453, of Towsendville, iHyO; Seneca Lodge No. 
694, of F'armer, 1894; Delphian Lodge No. 751, ol 
Waterloo, 1896; Junius Lodge No. 787, of Junius, 
1897; Banner Lodge No.f<4i, of Townsendville, 1902, 
Its hrst home was in the Hoskins block where it 
remained but a short time when it was moved to the 
.Miller building over Waller store now occupied b\ 
where it remained until 1882. when 
nii»\ed to its present commodious 
;md ple.'isant ()uarters in the Cliani- 

lirrlain block in Fall street, where il 
meets every Friday evening, its 
latchstring being always out to 
Tiienibers of the order who are given 
.1 hearty welcome. 

The present t.iflicers are: Nubli- 
(ir.-uid, Claude C. Sanderson; Vice 
Graiiil, William H. Russell; Record- 
ing Secretary, William W. F'ding- 
i"ii; Financial Secretary, John Mon- 
aichv; Treasurer, Geo. W. Drew; 
R. S: N. G., William M. Hull: L. S, 
\. G., William H. Powers; R. S. \'. 
1 i., Frank Berry; L. S. \'. G.,Cliarles 
W. Combs: Warden, .\rcliib;ild 
Woodward; Conductor, .\ndrevv 
llayne; R. S. S., Thomas H. 
tiniucutt: I.. S. S., tieorge F.. Riie; 
Chaj:)lain, .\sa Timmerman; S. P. 
G., .\lbertus N. ^Iaxson; 1. Ci.. 
Cliarles H. Stearns; O. Ci., Jacob H. 
Cigler: Trustees, F'rank Bauer, De 
Arcs- Burrilt and Frederick (i. 
\< 'ung. 

"Indian John'*Tragedy - ' 'n 

\)fc. 12. 180^, on the west liaiik 'A 
Black brook, in the present town ol 
Tyre, near where Traver's saw mill 
was afterwards built, (on the trail 
from Bridgeport to the Block House 
which stood near Clvde) occurred 
the murder of Kzekial Crane by a Cayuga Indian 
character of those times which was probably the last 
"brush ' the white settlers had witli the red man In 
this locality. Crane owned a farm and a distillerv, 
both of which he carried on. 

Indian John and a white man named George 
Phadoc built a cabin of logs covered with bark and 
entered into an arrangement to divide the season's 
hunt, consisting at that time of deer and small game. 
After a while the Indian became moody and sullen 
and complained of the aggressions of the whites. 
He grew suspicious of Phadoc who he charged with 
bewitching his gun. 

On the niorning of the date above given Phadoc 
went to the cabin to bring in a deer which he had 
killed and dressed the dav before. On reaching the 
door which was closed he was startled by the report 
of a gun from the inside of the hut. The door was 
made of a frame of light sticks covered with bark, 
through which a shot would easily pass. The ball, 
111 fact passed through Phadoc's hunting frock. 



Georjre Kice, 
)eutt. Second 

Wm. Hiissell. 
Bayne, Frank 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOfVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 



37 



(ireativ alarmed at the suddenness of the attack and 
his narrow escape, Phadoc turned and Hed seekinp 
safety at the nearest house, that of .\sa Smith, whose 
son jason is authority for the details here given 
Mr. Smith. ,i soldier of the revuhition, was that (lay 
thrc-liiMf; out wheat at .\sher llalsey's log barn, his 
wife with six children, ;it home. I'hadoc was appre- 
hensive lest the Indian should follow him and so hi' 
and the familv kept indoors during the remainder of 
the day -until more tragic events brought others 
there. 

Later in the day Ezra Degarmo arrived in hot 
haste direct from Indian .lohn's cabin where he had 
left his companion Ezekial Crane lying in front of 
the door wounded. Th^ two men had called to pro- 
cure some venison and had received the same sum- 
mary and deadly reception. Degarmo left the house 
t(» procure assistance and sorin after C'rane dragged 
himself in faint and bleeding. The shot of the Indian 
had entered his right side and lodged in his shoulder 
higher up. The news that quickly spread through 
the settlements represented the whole Cayuga tribe 
■'IS ha\iiig begun a mass.icre of the whites, and there 



way. It was not desired to shoot him down and .so 
strategy was resorted to. Three friendly Indian^ 
gaining his cabin under pretence of friendship and 
alliance with him, secured his weapons and giving a 
signal brought in the whole posse who soon had the- 
Indian securely bound. 

The old fellow was brought a prisoner to Smith'-, 
house led with a thong by liohert Gould and guarded 
by the rest of the party. There he raved and 
"gnashed his teeth" declaring that it was his pur- 
p(ise to exterminate all pale laces. 

That night or early the next day the Indian was 
placed in the basement of the toll house at Cayuga 
bridge which occupied the east abutment of the 
bridge and was then kept by a Mr. Buckley. But as 
the weather became cold the Indian was removed to 
the log jail at Canandaigua. In July, 1804, he was 
taken to .\ur<')ra where he was convicted of murder, a 
judge from the eastern part of the state presiding, 
and there executed the following mimth — August. 
He is said to have sold his body to Dr. Delano for a 
gallon of w^hiskv and that it was dissected. The 
Indian went to ttie scaffold with indifference. .After 




Pruden. Photo. \VlN-(iN-A UEBEKAH. Xo. S2. I. o n. F. 

Top Row (left to right)— Elizabeth Youns?, (J. G.: Kate Day, Chaplain; Jennie Maxson, R. S. N. G.; Rosa 
Lotherington. Treas.; Xancey Gay; Samaatba Relfe, L. S. N. G.; Lillian Thorn. Middle Row (left to right)— 
Camilla Messin^rer, Sec,; Jennie Timmerman, P. N. G.; Lucy (^'uddeback, X. G.: Jessie Sanderson. V. G.: 
Albiua Ritter, Fin Sec.; May Bacon, Pianist. Lower Row (left to right)— Etta Nichols, Warden; Jane Coons, 
Conductor. 



then a mere hamlet 
Mvnderse at once 



was an immediate preparation by all who had 
weapons to repel the savage^. 

The village of Seneca Ealls, 
was in great excitement. Col 
began moulding bullets while his messenger went 
the rounds calling out all who had arms. Benjamin 
Winans, among the first to reach Smith's house 
■'down in the woods", left the cobbler's bench in 
such a hurry that he carried his knife in his hand. 
This was used to rip open Crane's garments in order 
to dress his wound. That night a large gathering 
of men having arrived Crane was taken to his home 
on an ox sled where li\e davs later he expired. 

.\fter a council of war in which leaders were 
chosen, the march to Indian John's cabin was taken 
through the dark woods, the way lighted by torches. 
The old warrior was found standing in the door 



being pronounced dead, Jason Smith writes, the 
doctors applied a galvanic battery to the body which 
showed signs of life. So to make sure, according to 
the same authority, they severed the head which "a 
young student from Galen" lifted from the ground 
bv the top-knot (scalp-lock) and "made towards the 
crowd. The under jaw fell, " the same account 
savs, "and gave a ghastly appearance to the whole 
face, while the student slapping the chin with his 
hand made the teeth so to chatter as to cause the 
ladies to scream and the people to beat a hasty 
retreat." It is also stated that according to tradition 
Indian John during the revolution assisted in 
torturing prisoners of the Cayuga Indians "on 
Frontenac the lone island of Cayuga lake, whose 
bones were still visible when this country was first 
settled." 



3'^ 



"Cldl'S- IIISTOKMCAL SOIA'F.MIC ( )l' SI-.XKCA FAILS. 



Old Cemelery just off cif Ovid street was used 
as a Iniiial place from about 1820 until 1848, when 
the fenieter\' on h.ast Havard street was opened. 
.Many of thi' insiri|itions nn Ihe tombstones in the 
old eeineteiN are hard to decipher hut the folloA inj^ 
is a list of names with \e;ir of death and ane in 
\ears onI\\ of tlmse wlii' are buried there: 



Mrt'inrta. wife of William 

1). Johnson; died l.s;M; 

ii^e -"-'yeur'. 
.lane IJ. wf 'I'liomas Her- 

If i-t: LStl; iijre not de- 

eililierable. 
Phiehe, wf Jalii 7. LiTide- 

lev: IXM: 2L'. 
Corn.li;iPenv. dau I) I! \ 

M .1 Ciid.v: IS4S; IJ. 
Frnnces Stitrkweatiu'r, wf 

Dani- 1 D: 1.S41; 67. 
Enii'v. wf .1 V Chapman. 

IStti; -'li. 
.lane/, (•..rfer; lS4.i: SN. 
Delia, wf Tlionias Uellows; 

1.S44: S!i. 
Diiiiel lirook-^; I82T; Sk 
France.s I,, dan I! G Jolni- 

son; IS4n; infant. 
Xancv T, wf Levi Clark; 

IH-Si; il. 
Stephen Wakelee: 1841; 4.^). 
.Iame.s lienni'tt: 1S3T; liH. 
Sarah Kenni.ti; 1820; Ti."). 
Jorusha .lane Dunninu'; 

isat; «. 

Nicholas H Peekhani; \KU: 

2.5. 
Nancv Sherman, wf .John 

(iindecipherMble); 1S2(>; 'Si 
Richard W. Holiert.*. son 

of He/.ekiah; l>m: Hi. 
Sarah Ci-oneh.dan Samuel 

and Elizabeth; 1.S41; Xt. 
Daniel Starkweather; 1S3H; 

Asa Slaikweather; is4;i: :«. 

Rmrline.wf .Josiah HOun- 
ninjr; 1824; ;i5. 

Catherine, wf Arnold 
Mor.i : 184.S; M. 

Eliza, wf Daniel Kellv; 
1841; :«. 

Mary Kinsrslev: 18.1:!; 27 

Barbary Kin!;slev: ISISi; ;W. 

Barney Kirb"y; 18:33; :». 

Steklania. wf Uenjaniin 
Hndaun: 18:19; 22. 

Burr Blacker; 1831; 2.'!. 

Daniel Marchare; 18:J4: lli. 

Mary .lane, wf .John Hud- 
son; 183!); 2:1. 

.Tohtl \V. West; 18:38; 3'. 

.Inseph Failing; 18:i4; .")2. 

Martlia,wf Joseph Failinff; 
l.tH: 47. 

JerniMii. wf Joseph Brew- 
er; 18:31; 5:i. 

John West; 1846; 84. 

M»ry, wf Wm. Wood; 1843; 
75. 

Betsey B. wf David Dur- 
rand; 18.34; 45. 

I-fzett Shaw; l.'i.32; 2. 



Lucy Shaw; 18:33; infant. 

Mvnder«e Sackett;ls20;lvr 

Henry Iniralls; 1820; 2'.. 

Klizabeth Hamilton;1842; 67. 

Marjiaret Lanirs; 1849; :t2. 

Marv Lanys; 1847; 8. 

('has Compson; 1825; 311. 

Edward r^'ompson; 18:16; (vl. 

Walter (iarliek; 18:35; 1. 

Wni .MeCov: 1828; infant. 

SvlvesterMcCiv; 182.5; inft 

Eliphalet Garliek; 1834; 46. 

Sarah Barnum; 1841; 7:1. 

S M Pavne; 18:17; infant. 

Keuhen Pavne; 18:30; 2. 

Samuel Pavne; 18:19; 1. 

^'arv W Potter: 1.8:i9; 10. 

Marv (' Potter; 18:37: :31. 

Emily Potter; 18.37; 2. 

Lvriia Potter; 1829; infant. 

Harriet Potter; l.s:!3; :31. 

Matilda Potter; 18:17: 13. 

rhasTh'irston; ls:i4; 1 

Henry B"inenf; ls:i6: II. 

Denisonltement; ls:j5;in'tt 

Charity Taim: l.s:t9; («. 

liOuisa Viele; 18'3:l; 25. 

Lewis Metealf; 18:38; (aire 
not decipherable.) 

Elminn Satre; 18:!ii; 28. 

Jane Robinson: l.s.39; 81. 

Bfideret Lave\-; 184.S: 25. 

Albert Coleman; 1833; 6. 

Matilda Coleman: 18.3-2; 3, 

John Hartnetf; l.s:37: 30 

Nathaniel Well.s; 18:3:3; in- 
fant. 

Chart' sF'Oler; 18:3:1; 1. 

Hiinmh Wo 'Nrv; i,s:37; 25. 

Isaac Baker- l.s:ii;; pi. 

Col. L"mliei-t VauAlstym-; 
1847; 76 

Elizabeth Van.\lstyne. wf 
Lambert: 184-'; 68 

Alinira r^ongrdon: 1837; 2t. 

John B Whe-l.r; 1841; 67. 

.lernsha.wf John B Wheel- 
er: 1837: 61. 

B'-tsev, wf Rev S Matti- 
snn; 184"; .3.5. 

Simeons Elliott: 18:38; 17. 

Ezekiel Beehe; 1844; 90. 

.\a-n' s. wf Ez'kiel Beebe; 
1844; 84. 

.Aliei-t Klino; 1813; I. 

Chas. Wheeler; 1847: 1. 

Fannv Shoemakr-r; l.«46;34. 

Mary Conklln: 1846; .58. 

Azariah Grant; 1835; 27. 

Marcus Jones; 1840; .5. 

Sarah Lnm; 1833, Infant. 

Sylvester Savaa-e; 18:36; 38. 

Hannah Kellev:! .83:3; Infant 

Mary Chlttenton; 1843; .35. 



Early Preaching in Junius ;ind vicinity. 
] lie lirst liaptist church society in Seneca county was 
org:uiized at Ronnihis in 1795; the Baptist church at 
Covert in 1803. 

.\ Presbyterian ihunh was organized in Romulus 
village in 1802; another of the same denomination 
at Ovid in 1803. 

The Reformed church at I.odi was organized in 
1800 and the German Reformed church at Beary- 
town in 1804. 

In 1815 Hozial Baker, a .Methodist exhorter. 
preached in private residences. 

One of the sermons preached by Charles Stewart 
during that year, in the bar room of Pontius Hooper's 
tavern at Kingdom, is de_scribed as being midst the 
following surroundings. Men were seated about the 
room, occasionally going to the bar for a drink, and 
Hooper, who waited on his customers, althougli it 



u-;is Sunday, did ;i "land otlice business.' .\ p:irtv 
of three, who had been hunting, came in during tin- 
sermon, stacked their arms in one corner of the room. 
dr:nik at the bar and then seated themselves ;nnong 
Stewart's iiuditors, consisting of twenty Scotch Pres- 
byterians. 

Shipley Wells whose son, Henry, was the fiumilcr 
of Wells Seminary at .\urora, preachej at W:iterli>o 
oi-casionally. and about iSiS kept a t;ivern ;it 
Waterloo. ' 

Lorenzo Dow, a conspicuous hgure with his long 
raven hair, swarthy hgure and ill htting clothes, was 
;i Baptist circuit rider who was here as early as 1820. 
He is re nembered as preachiug a vigorous, "Ciod- 
fe;iring " sermon at a campmeeting on the west shore 
of Cavuga lake in the summer of 1S21. Being plain 
sfioken and earnest, his renuirks being emphasized 
with manv gestures, his sermons cut to tin- marrow 
:tl! of his godless liejirers. 

Bridgeport; l'-;u'liesl P;itentees ot the Land; ;i 
famous Stage Terminid; Old '1 inie Hostelries 
where news from the Outside World was Re- 
cei\ed. 

Il-rom lads compiled by I-red Tcllerj 

Lot No. 5 I 230 acres of the West Cayuga Keser- 
\,itionJ, where the \-iIlage of West Cayuga or 
Bridgeport was afterwards built, was sold by the 
Sur\eyor I'li-neral, \ov. i. 1746, to .loseph .\miiu. 
Luther 'I'robridge and Wilhelmus Mvnderse for 
■Si,2l>o. They gave a bond 0181,235. .\nnin, and 
John Harris the ferryman and trader on the eist 
shore of the lake, were among the incorporators of 
the Cayuga Bridge Co. John Harris was appointed 
sheriff of Onondaga county when in 17Q4 it was 
erected. He served two years and during tint time 
est;iblished at ISridgeport a general store-, :m ;isliery 
and a distillery. Capt. Samuel H:irris, his father. 
|jatented lot =,1} north of the .\nnin patent. 

Lot \o. 3 was divided inti* si.\t\--si\ or more sub- 
di\-isi(.tns. .Among t!ie transfers of the sid)-di\*isions 
occur the names ol a number that ran famous ta\eriis 
at the Bridge and recall a host of recollections that 
hiive for nearly ;i t-entury clung around that quarter 
of old .lunius. There was the Daniel Sayre tavern; 
.lohn Stone's, father of the late Col. John R. Stcme of 
I'ayette; the old tavern, nf>rth-west of the 
Bridge, kept by the old Revolutionary patriot, (ien. 
Christopher Baldy, in i8in; the Roberts tavern of 
1812 im the north side of the Bridge; and that of 
Henry Moses on the south side. It was at Roberts 
tavern that Capt. .lohn Richardson's company )nit 
up on the lirst day's march to the frontier in the war 
of 1812. They were attired, an old chronicler tells 
us, in hunting frocks of green worsted with yellow 
fringe and equipped with flint lock rifles, hunting 
knives, bullet pouches and powder horns. The 
gallant Captain then and there surrendered to the 
charms of Landlord Roberts' daughter and married 
her. There were also the Olivers, John and .Amos, 
and the .I.-icob Stahl tavern where state elections 
were held. There were a host of other well nigh 
forgotten places around which our fore-fathers used 
to gather when the stages drove up, to learn the news 
from Xew '\'ork, that was only seven days old and 
not quite three months ancient history from the CMd 
Country. 

First Postmaster of Junius was Lewis Birds;ill 
who had his ollire m his tavern, two miles east of 
Wiiterloo. 



"GRII'S ■ msruKICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



3') 



The Goulds Mutual Benefit Association was 
cirgnni/.-(l Aug. ft, 1847, as "The Goulds Benefit Asso- 
ciation," having for its object the assistance of its 
members in case of accident or sickness. On Dec. 3, 
l8q7, the name of the organization was changed tn 
the present name. 

The first officers of the society were: Norman lias- 
ton president, Thomas Plunkett vice president, .lohn 
Wentz treasurer, .\rcher Bailey recording secretary 
and Thomas Sherman financial secretary. 

The present officers are: Harold T. Duff president. 
Edward I., (iuion vice president, John Wentz tre.-i- 
surer. .\. (i. Withers recording secretary and \Vm. 
\'an Dyke financial secretary. 

The present membership is 430 and is steadil.\- 
increasing. Only employes of the Goulds Mfg. Co. 
are eligible for membership upon recommendation of 
their roimi conunittee. Disablement bv accident 
entitles a member to immediate benefit at the rate of 
^T.oo per week for .i iiKivitii'in* tprin of i^ week-^; 



Stage Coaches in the Early Days: List of 
Taverns where they Stopped: Postage Twenty- 
four Cents. 

The first stage coach to lumber along the old 
(-ienesee highway from the east — the first to enter the 
land of the Cayuga Indians — and draw up to .lohii 
Harris's ferry at Cayuga lake, on the opening of the 
road in 1707, left Fort Schuyler. September 30, 
and arrived in Geneva on the afternoon of the third 
day with four passengers. The stage taverns at 
which passengers for some time afterwards obtained 
refreshments were: 

From Fort Schuyler to Lairds, 10 miles; to \'an 
Epps', near Oneida reservation, 6 miles: to Wenips' 
at Oneida Castle, 6 miles: to Sill's, at Deep Spring 
(Chittenango), 11 m.: to Keeler's 12 m.; to Tyler's 
(Onondaga Hill), 10 m.; Rice's (Nine Mile Creek), 10 
m.: Harris's (Cayuga ferry), 20 m.: Powell's (Geneva), 
13 m. 




Pruden, Photo. GOULD BENEFIT ASSOCIATION. 

Top Row (left to right;— Spencer Koyston, David C. Avres. Hugh Murphy, Joseph P. Case.v, W. C. Moyer, 
Trustees. Lower Row-,Iohn Wentz. Treasurer; Alfred Withers, Recording Secretary: H. T. Duff. President: 
E. L. Guion, Vice-President; Wm. Van Dyke. Financial Sdcretary. 



sick benefit commencing with the second week of 
disablement for the same length of time and at the 
same rate. During the life of the organization the 
sum nf 85,043.3(1 has been paid out in benefits. 

The company realizing the usetulness of this society 
ccmtributes annually to its treasury: and it gave the 
use of the large triplex building upon its completion 
in October, igoo, for a grand ball which from point 
of attendance and receipts was the largest undertak- 
ing of its kind ever attempted in Seneca Falls, the 
net sum of S413.00 being added to the treasury. 

The present balance on hand is nearly S500.00 
and under the same careful and efficient manage- 
ment now accorded it The Cioulds Mutual Benefit 
.Association has before it a useful future. 

The First Death at Seneca Falls, so far as is 
known, on Dec. 13. 1792, was that of the wife of Job 
Smith. 



During the winter of i797-'8 two stages, one of 
them a stage wagon, made weekly trips between 
.Albany and Canandaigua. In 1804 Jason Parker 
and Levi Stevens secured by legislative enactment, 
the e.\clusive right to run stage wagons for seven 
vears on this new turnpike between I'tica and Can- 
andaigua. These stages made two trips per week. 

In 1809 Isaac Sherwood became a partner with 
Jason Parker in the stage lines through this country, 
carrving the United States mail. 

In 1816 the fast line of stages made the run be- 
tween Canandaigua and Utica in thirty-si.x hours. 
The projectors of the line were Isaac Sherwood & 
Co.. -Aaron Thorp, I. Whitmore, Jason Parker and 
Thomas Powell. 

Somewhere "in the twenties" a splendid new line 
of stage coaches was placed on the pike by J. M. 
Sherwood & Co., of Auburn. This was a most 



40 



•GRIP'S- HISTORICAL SOl'VENTR OF SEKECA FALLS. 



popular line in charge of experienced and careful 
drivers and fleet horses. It ran day and night. 

Miss Janet Cowing has a ticket which entitles the 
hiilder to a passage in one of their way coaches from 
\uburn to tieneva, which it states is to be given up 
when called for. She also has a letter which was 
posted by mail coach from Manchester, K. H.. to 
Niagara Falls. N. V., on which the postage is twelve 
pence, which is about twenty-four cents. 

Wm. A. Sackett [Henry St.. well, in Seneca 
Falls Reville]— Hon. Wm. .\. Sackett. a former 
pn.iminent and well known citizen of Seneca Falls, 
died verv suddenly at his home in Saratoga Springs 
of apoplexy on Friday, Sept. 6, 1893, aged 84 years. 
The deceased was born in the town of .'\urelius, Cay- 
uga countv, and after being graduated from the 
Aurora .Academy, he came to Seneca Falls and read 
law in the office of Judge Luther F. Stevens. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1831 and practiced here 
until (I859, when he moved to Saratoga Springs 
where he was employed as counsel for the plaintiff in 




I'rudiMi, I'lMit,,. SENi:C.\ FALLS liASE HAM, TKAM, VMi. 
Tun Kow (left to ris'lit)— Frank Farrell, T. F.; Austin Flnll!^^'al 



I, ]•.. Lewis, 
F. Lower Row— Joliii guiiin, 2.1 1!.; Frank 
.1. C. Doyle, Mgr.; Fianlv Ciawtord, C: 



K. F.; Leii Smith lat B.; Eastoii, 
Wooils, 3d B.; Wm. Chappeli, P.; 
Samuel McGraw, S. S. 

the celebrated "Spike " suit of the Troy Iron and Nail 
factory against Erastus Corning and others, Chan- 
cellor Walworth being referee in the case. While in 
practice at Seneca Falls he was successively the law 
partner of Judge John Maynard and Charles H. 
Weed. He represented the 27th district in Congress 
from 1850 to 1854, being elected by the Whig party. 
After going to Saratoga he was appointed Register 
ill Bankruptcy under the administration of President 
Lincoln, and it was while in the discharge of the 
duties of the office that he acquired the title of Judge, 
by which he was so familiarly known in Saratoga 
and adjoining counties. He was a brother of the 
late Garry V. Sackett of this village, and Mrs. Fannie 
Dickinson who resides in Bridge street. He was 
also father of Edward Stanley Sackett of this village 
and of Mrs. Charles L. Stone and Mrs. Charles H. 
Duell of Syracuse. His third wife, who was Miss 
Marvin of Saratoga Springs survives him. He was a 



man of commanding personal appearance, and .1 
striking figure wherever he appeared. His love (or 
his old home and his old neighbors and friends never 
waned, and it seemed like the renewal of his age to 
revisit the scenes of his early manhood, which he did 
as often as circumstances would permit. H>' w.is 
one of the earlv and prominent citizens who g^ivr 
iharacter to the town and whose good name lie 
alwavs tenderly cherished. With Garry \'. Sai'kett, 
Luther 1'". Stevens, John Mavnard, .\nsel Bascom, 
Wm. .\. Sackett, John Morgan, Elisha Foote, Dester 
C. Bloomer, Stephen S. \'iele, Josiah I'. Miller. Henry 
H. Stanton and others Sene-a Falls had an array of 
legal talent at an early day that was not surpassed 
bv more pretentious villages. With his contempor- 
aries |udge Sackett was an able lawyer, an excellent 
speaker, a good citizen and a genial and kind hearted 
friend. We shall not see his like again. 

Cayuga Bridge Village or Cayuga ferry as 
it was then called, was made the first county seat of 
Cavug.i county at the time that county was ere. ted 
in i/'i'). For a time, until a "goal" could be erected 
at Cayuga Ferrv, prisoners were 
taken to the jail at Canandaigua. 
riie law also provided that the 
courts should be held at Cayuga 
lTrr\. The courts a short time 
.ifler must lia\e been held ;il 
.\Lirora as it was there that 
Indian John was tried for murder 
111 1804 [See "Indian John Tra- 
gedy" on another page]. By an 
rnactment of the legislature of 
-March 23, 1800, "the log house 
riccled by the Cayuga Bridge Co. 
.it or near the eastern end of said 
bridge, on the margin of C'ayuga 
Like, shall be considered as the 
' ornmon goal." 

At about that time there had 
sprung up a settlement of con- 
siderable importance including 
la\erns and dwellings on both 
sides of the Lake. Simeon 
DeWitt, Survevor General of the 
.State, deemed it of sufficent 
importance in his survey to place 
lis latitude on his map of 1802.. 
It is north latitude 42 degrees 54 
minutes 14 seconds. The Cayuga 
Bridge Co. surveyed and plotted 
considerable land about the east 
end of the bridge, evidently con- 
templ.'iting n ciMiinierrial importance for the place. 

The Bayard Land Co., the original owners of 
the site of Seneca Falls and the water power, was 
formed at .Mbany in 1794 and included Robert 
Troup, Nicholas Gouverneur, Stephen N. Bayard, 
Elkanah Watson and Wilhelmns .Mynderse, the latter 
locating here as its agent. The company at first 
purchased 100 acres north of the river which had been 
a matter of contention between Job Smith and Law- 
rence Van Cleef the two original settlers, and also 
500 acres from Elkanah Watson. Subsequent pur- 
chase increased its holdings to 1.450 acres. Until 
the company dissolved, in 1825, it held land at high 
prices and restricted local enterprise. Owing to the 
failure of some of the members it divided its property 
and the village thereafter Ind a healthy growth. 



"CRIP'S- HISTOUUAI. SOrVKNlR OF SKNKCA I-AI.I.S. 



4' 



Early Roads and Ferries; The Genesee High- 

N\,,\ .111.1 I )I<1 l"ll Kimd; Senera 'rurnpikp; 
Statf l^la(^; Cayuga herry. 

I IIV l-RF-Il tiu.i.er] 
Thf walprwavs wrre the easiest liTiuwTi rarly 
mrthdds of travel in the interior of New Vorl< state, 
aid lliev were comparatively unknown when t'.ov. 
Wni. Trvon nl New York in 1771 caused a map to 
h.- made of that tiTntor\ If then tlie waterways 
were so Httle known, it lolli>\vs that the land pas- 
sages were few and unfamiliar. This region lay in 
the verv heart of the innermost recesses of the Iro- 
quois territories, .\long the north bank of what was 
then termed "The dreat Senera River " were only 
Indian paths which led from the chief village of 
the Cavuga tribe of Indians residing east of the 
Cayuga lake, westward to Canadasaga, one of the 
important towns or castles of the Senei a tribes of 
Indians, to the northwest of Seneia lake. .\long 
this old Indian trail worn by the moccasin of the red 
man and perchance the captives they had adopted 
into their tribes, the only white travelers were the 
trader, the Indian agent, the half breed, the squatter 
.ind the earlv 1-rench Jesuit missiimaries. 
sii.i.iv.\n's ro.\ii 
When (icn. Sullivan marched into this region, lie 
was obliged to prejiare an opening through the 
heavv growth of timber for his battalions and artll- 
lerv to advance. The axe then for the lirst time, cut 
a road into this woodland solitude, over which the 
emigrants from the Cierman and other settlements in 
I'ennsvlvania and other places to the south of us, 
c-ame and settled in this vicinity. The early records 
of the town of Romulus show that in June, 1745, this 
track was then laid out into a highway from the 
south bounds of Romulus north to the Seneca outlet. 
smith's ro.\ii ..\t the falls 
In the vear 1788, or a little later, we hear of a 
roadwav something over a mile in length, that led 
around the rapids in the Seneca river. Over it 
traveled the rustic conveyance of Job Smith, as he 
carted the belongings of the traveler around the 
falls. This route was over the same ground that a 
roadway, continued from the south side of the river, 
laid out Oct. 18, 1796, covered. In December, 1792, 
Or. .Alexander Coventry, the first physician in this 
section, has ftcorded in his journal that "Job ,Smith 
is putting up a bridge over Seneca outlet below the 
falls (Seneca Kails)." 

CAYl'G.\ LAKF, TO SKOIVASE 

In the vear 1789 two bridle paths had been blazed 
through the woods, from in front of the log cabin of 
lames Bennett, on the west shore of Cayuga lake, at 
a point near where the Wayne cobblestone house 
now stands, a short distance north of Cayuga Lake 
Park. One ran south and west.. The other ran 
north and then west, and then north-west diagonally 
across the country to the river. 1 have the survey of 
the latter, dated "Town of Romulus, Onondaga 
Countv, Oct. iS, I7g'i," which describes the new 
highwav to be opened over this trail as follows: 
"Beginning at Mr. Bennett's ferry, on the bank of 
Ciuga (so spelled in the original) Lake, running 
thence bv twentv-seven different variatitms of the 
compass, a distance of a little over two miles, to Mr. 
Mynderse's mill, thence bv three additional variations 
to the lower landing. Thence to be continued up 
the Seneca outlet, on the ni>rth side as near the said 
outlet as the ground will admit, to Mr. Chapman's 
at Scoyes." It is recorded Oct. 24, 1796, and signed 
John Fleming and George Bailey, Commissioners of 
Highways. 



BENNETT-HARRIS FF.RRV 

James Bennett, coming from .Northumberland 
countv. Pa., built the cabin in 1789 and conducted 
the ferrv across Cayuga lake, above referred to, in 
connecti<m with John Harris who was on the eastern 
shore. Harris came from Harrisburg, Pa., and 
settled over there in 1788, erecting a store and trad- 
ing house and establishing the ferry. In 1789 Harris 
married Mary Richardson of Frederick City, Md., and 
in T790 built a tavern, the lirst at Cayuga Ferry. 
When the Cayuga Indians in 1795 ceded their reser- 
vations to the state of New S'ork, and the ceded 
lands were surveyed by Joseph .^nnin and John J. 
Cantine and plotted, iVnnett's piece became lot No. 
I ^ and his partner's across on the east side of the 
lake No. 57. These lots, each containing 250 acres, 
were patented by the two men. 

AN EARLY INCIllENT 

We learn from an entry in Dr. Coventry's Journal, 
under the date of July'7, 1791. some particulars in 
regard to this ferrv, as well as the fact that the road 
we have just described, even then, hve years before 
the road commissioners laid it out, had become pass- 
able for horsemen. The Doctor writes: "Got to 
Cayuga ferry about half-past eight in the evening. 
It was about two and one-half hours from Geneva. 
When we got to the ferry the scow- was on the other 
side and no one to fetch it, also the wind blew hard. 
However, got a young fellow to go over in a canoe 
along with me. He was confounded lazy and I had 
to steer. When we got over, the master of the ferry 
would not start off under an hour. At last we got our 
horses over and paid five shillings and six pence for 
ferriage at this ferry and two shillings and nine 
pence at the other ferry (referring to the ferry at 
Seneca outlet near tieneva) and seven shillings and 
six pence for lodging." 

1 HE GENESEE ROAll 

The Road Township act was passed m 1789, for 
the purpose of opening a roadway west from Old 
Fort Schuvler to Seneca lake. The Legislature set 
aside a township of land in what is now .Madison 
county, the proceeds of which were to be applied for 
that purpose, .\bout the close of the year 1789, a 
contract was made with Flphraini Blackmer, for the 
cutting out of a road two rods wide, from Old Fort 
Schuyler to Seneca lake. The work was commenced 
in the winter and early spring of 1790 and was com- 
pleted late in the fall of the year to Cayuga Ferr\ 
and during the winter to Geneva. I say completed — 
the timber was cut off but the stumps were still in 
the road. 

THE LOTTERY ACT 

The improvement of the new road east of Geneva 
and its extension beyond were provided for in an act 
of Nov. 22, 1794. Then came the law of Nov. 28, 
1797, providing for a lottery of $45,000 with three 
drawings from two of which should be appropriated 
the aggregate of 813,900 for the Great Genesee road. 
Capt. Charles Williamson, agent for the lands of 
Robert Morris and others in Ontaiio county, helped 
the act along as a member of the legislature and 
personally obtained four thousand days subscriptions 
along the route which he says was performed with 
hdelitv and cheerfulness, so that "with some other 
contributions the state commissioners were enabled 
to complete the road of nearly one hundred miles, 
opening it sixtv-four feet wide and paving with logs 
and gravel the moist places of the low country 
through which it was carried. Hence the road from 
F'ort Schuvler -from being in the month of June, 
1747, a little better than an Indian path, was so far 
improved that a stage started from Fort Schuyler on 
the 30th of September of the same year, and arrived 
at the hotel in Geneva in the afternoon of the third 
dav, with four passengers." This was considered 



4= 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



remarkable time and a cause for great congratu- 
lation. 

RO,\n IN SENECA F.\I.LS 

In Col. Wilhelnius Mynderse's account books in 
June and July of 1747 are found a number of entrie? 
for sums paid for laying out and work upon this 
road to Capt. Williamson. 

The completing of this highway and bridge turned 
the great tide of travel that had set in inimediatplv 
after the w-ar through our countv. 

The road passed through our village, by wav of 
Seneca street, crossed the river at or near where the 
lower bridge near the Rumsey shops is now, follow- 
ing the present line of Fall street, westward. 

r,RE.\T TOLL RO,\Il 

In the year i8(X) an act passed the Legisla- 
ture incorporating the Seneca Road or Turnpike 
Company. This road was to run between the house 
of .John House in the villa.ge of Utica and the court 
house in Canandaigua. The route was practically 
the same as the Great (lenesee Highway. The trus-. 
tees were Charles Williamson, Benjamin Walker, 
Jedediah Sanger aijd Israel Chapin. The road was 
to be six rods in width and the center to be hlled 
with broken stone, the center to be not less than 
twenty inches higher than the edges, at least eighteen 
feet in center to be bedded with wood or stone to 
secure a solid foundation. Toll houses were to be 
ten miles from each other. Xo persons passing to or 
from public worship on Sundav, going to their com- 
mon labor on farms, carrying fire wood, going to or 
from mill for the grinding of grain for family use, 
going to or returning from any funeral, shall pay 
any toll in the town in which thev reside. Up to 
1823 there were twelve different amendments to this 
company's charter passed bv the Legislature. This 
road opened the western cotintrv to a flow of travel 
that built up a chain of prosperous villages. 

ST.\TE RO.Mi 

In 1808 the State road, two miles north of us, was 
laid out, John Sayre, Joshua Van\'leet and Samuel 
Law-rence acting as' commissioners. This was the 
year the Cayuga bridge across the lake went down 
the first time. Seventeen years later action was 
taken which resulted in the building of a road 
directly east through the Montezuma marshes and 
the erection of what has since been known as the 
Free Bridge. 

THE RESERVATION RO.^D 

bounding the west side of West Cayuga reserva- 
tion w-as laid out as a public highway and the 
survey recorded Aug. 25, 1808. 

The Free Bridge [From facts compiled bv Fred 
Teller.] — In 1825 action was taken to build a road 
through the Montezuma Marshes which led to the 
erection of the "Free Bridge", as it was called, in 
contradistinction to the toll bridge at Cayuga ferry. 
Mr. Teller has in his possession the original docu- 
ments relating to this bridge, in the erection of which 
the towns of Phelps, Manchester, Mentz, Aurelius and 
Tyre were interested. On the building committee 
Tyre was represented by Thomas C. Magee. On two 
subscription lists to raise means for the project is 
shown but one cash contribution, S5. Among the 
contributions were sixteen dollars in produce, four 
fur hats, ijoo feet of bridge planks, "six davs whisky 
found," by a distiller and several days of labor. In 
a memoranda of agre'»ment Samuel Tripp and Nel- 
son Roosevelt agreed to make alternate sections of 
the causeway containing forty rods in a section. 



The Cayuga Bridge Company obtained an injunc- 
tion restraining Thomas Magee and associates from 
erecting any bridge within three miles of 'either of 
the bridges built or kept by the complainants across 
Cayuga lake or outlet. .A survey bill showed that 
the distance between the South Cayuga and the 
Montezuma bridges was six miles, seventv-seven 
chains and sixty-two links and the injunction was 
vacated. A. P. Compo was ' the surveyor. The 
chain and compass belonged to Squire Burton of 
AVaterloo. 

THE FIRST FOUR SETTLERS 

Sha-se-iinse (swift runuint; w. iters) was the Indian 
name of Seneca Falls. 

Job Smith, so far as is known, was the first white 
settler here. He came from Ulster county in the 
spring of 1787 and built a log house near the present 
location of the Littlejohn marble works. The entire 
journey was made in a flatboat down the Mohawk 
river, through Oneida lake and river and up Seneca 
river. Bringing along an ox team he made himself 
a rude cart and established a "carry" for goods of 
settlers around the falls; also trafficking with the 
Ind:ans. While Smith was the first to construct an 
habitation here he remained only about seven years, 
going fo Waterloo, where he married a Miss Gorham 
and a year later leaving this section. 

Lawrence \"an Cleef, who served in the first New 
York regiment through tbe revolutionarv war, first 
visited the falls with a detachment of Gen. Sullivan's 
;irmy in 1779. So strongly was he impressed with the 
locality that at the close of the war or some time 
later, in the spring of 1789, he came directly here and 
purchased Smith's claim to a hundred acres, bringing 
his family hither in the fall of the same vear. On 
the fiats near Smith's house he erected a double log 
house which he afterwards improvised for a tavern 
and in which he lived fi\-e years. But he afterwards 
continued a resident of Seneca Falls until his death. 
July I j, 1830, at 73 years of age. So \'an Cleef was 
the real founder of the settlement here. Van Cleef 
and Smith for some time shared the profits of the 
"carry" about the falls. The former also placed 
considerable land under cultivation. When Smith 
disappeared \'an Cleef continued carrying and haul- 
ing goods until the locks were built in 1815. \'an 
Cleef also erected the first frame house here, in 1794, 
which stood on Fall street near the west end of the 
present King block. Into this he moved his family. 

A Mr. Parkhurst who bought Van Cleef's tavern 
on the flats in 1794, was the second man to bring his 
family here, the third settler. Parkhurst afterwards 
built a tavern on the site of the present Stanton 
house. 

Smith's claim to the 100 acres which Van Cleef 
bought was not admitted by the State, and the land 
in 1794 was sold to the Bayard Land Co., for 82,100, 
which later settled with Van Cleef. There are many 
of his descendants still living, some in Seneca 
county. There were six children, Jane, the eldest of 
the daughters, being the first white person and George 
C, one of his sons, the first whith male born here. 

Wilhelmus Mynderse [described elsewhere] was the 
fourth settler — the first to locate industries in Seneca 
Falls. 

An incident related of Van Cleef, who generally 
managed to maintain peace with his neighbors, is 
that he was shot at by an Indian while standing in 
the doorway of his house, the bullet passing near 
his head. He caught the Indian, took his gun awav 
and broke it over his head. Then he threw him into 
his canoe and set it adrift, the Indian afterwards 
being discovered dead at the outlet of the lake. 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OV SENECA FALLS. 



4.^ 




Borrnwc<l Photo. 

REV. A. \V. TAVLDK. 

Sheriffs (Years of Service.) — In the case of Messrs. 
CMinp and Larzelere records only show that both 
were elected in 1817. It is presumed there was a 
vacancy after Camp's election. Wm. Smith 1804-08, 
i8io-'ii; Lewis nirdsall 1804-10, i8i2-"i3, i8i6-'i7: 
.lohn \'an Tuyl, i8i4-'i5: Heman Camp elected Jan., 
1817, and Jacob L. Larzelere elected Aug., 1817. 
served iSiS-'ig: Josiah B. Chapman i820-'2i, 1823- 
'25 (the first of the 3-years term); Thomas Armstrong 
elected 1821, served not more than one year as Josiah 
I'l. Chapman's second election for sheriff was in 1822. 
I.Armstrong may have been legislated out of olllrp 
when the legislature changed the term to three years); 
Israel W. Squires i82(i-'2S, i833-'37; James Rorison 
i829-'3i; Henry Moses i832-'34; James Stevensmi 
l838-'40; Nathaniel N. Hoyt i84i-'43; Benj.W. .\daiii-- 
i844-'6; Hugh Chapman i847-'49, i83q-'6i; Aaron R. 
Wheeler i83o-'32; Horace C. Tracy i833-'33; Stephen 
Compscm i83(>-":8; .Abram B. Slauson i8f)2-".|., i874-'<i; 
Myron R. Cole 18(13-/: Josiah Rogers i8fi8-'7o; .lohn 
r. Stout 1871 -'3; Cornelius Bodine 1877-'^; Solomon 
Carman i88o-'82; Cliarles H. Swarthout 1883-^3; 
Warren I'.. Lerch i886-'8; John Woods i889-'i)i; 
(."liarles W. \'an Cleef 1892-4; John E. Purcell 1843- 
'7; .Albert C. Clark 1898-1900; Hugh McGhan 1901- 
03; Thomas E. Mills elected 1903 to serve from Jan. 
I. 1404, for three vears. 

Congressmen from Seneca Co. — (Years if 
service) Silas Halsey, Lodi, 1803-7; Oliver C. Com- 
stock, Ulysses, i8i3-'i7; Robert S. Rose, Fayette, 
i823-'26; John Maynard, Ovid, 1827; Jehiel H. 
Halsey, Lodi, i82g-'3i; Samuel Clark, W'aterloo. 
1833-3; Samuel Birdsall, Waterloo. i837-'9; John 
Maynard, Seneca Falls, i84i-'3; John DeMott, Lodi. 
i843-'7; W'm. .A. Sackett. Seneca Falls, i849-'33: 
Jacob P. Chamberlain, Seneca Falls, i86i-'3; John 
E. Seeley, Ovid, i87i-'3. 

Sayre's Barn, the Cradle of the Church.- -The 
lirst Presbyterian church of the village of Seneca 
Falls was organized in the barn of Col. Daniel Sayre, 
then a supervisor of Junius, .Aug. 10, 1807. 



Church Committee, 
L. F. Crowell, Mrs. H. 
.A. J. (iardner: Clerk, 



The First Congregational Church was or- 
ganized Dei. 19, i8fi9, with a membership of 80. Its 
olTicers were, at the time of its organization: P.-istor, 
l\e\. W. W. Lisle; Deacons, Horace Seekell, Wm. 
t'cinkling, .\braham Failing; 
Wm. Smalley, ICdwin .Medden, 
Duell, Mrs. C. Smalley, .Mrs. 
Horace W. Knight; Treasurer, Wm. L. Bellows; 
Trustees, E. Medden president, W. L. Bellows clerk, 
Harvey Benham, R. C. Dunham, Wm. Smalley, Chas. 
Seekell. L. F. Crowell; Superintendent of Sunday 
Scliodl. Edwin Medden. The corner stone of the 
I luircli building was laid .Aug. 19. 1870, the Rev. T. 
K. Beecher <if Elmira making the address on the 
theme, "Wliv am I a Congreg:rtionalist?" The cor- 
ner stone was laid bv Mr. Chiltis and lies in the 
northeast corner of the tower. The church was 
completed at a cost of §30,000 and formally dedi- 
cated and opened for public worship Sept. 21. 1871. 
The dedicatorv sermon was preached by Rev. Ed- 
ward Taylor, D. D., of Binghamton, N. A"., from 
Psalms 9(1:6. The hrst pastor of this church was 
Rev. W. W. Lyie, from 1869 to 1873, who resigned 
his jiastorate because of ill health after four years of 
faithful servile. Rev. Mr. Smith succeeded him in 
1874 and then in regular line of succession, either as 
stated suppiv or as installed pastor, were the follow- 
ing: Rev. Mr. .Minor, Rev. Dr. Bradford, Rev. .A. E. 
Kinmoutli, Yiew Mr. Bell, Rev. Peter Lindsay, Rev. 
(t. .a. Rawson, Rev. H. Margetts, Rev. Dr. .A. Wilber 
Tavlor, the present pastor, who is now' completing 
the eleventh year of his pastorate. 

The present Trustees: E. L. Bowell chairjnan, Wni. 
E. Medden, C:has. Knight, H. W. Knight, Chas. 
Curtis, Wm. Russell; Church Clerk, (ieo. .Anient; 
Church Treasurer, H. \V. Knight; Deacons, Wm. L, 
Bellows, Edwin .Medden, Chas. Babcock, Benjamin 
V. Stevens, Wm. Frintig, Richard Please. 

The Woman's Reading Club was organized 
in 1887. Flic c lull adopted for its colors pink and 
white, and for its flower the carnation. The club 
meetings are held Tuesday evenings, beginning the 
hrst Tuesday in Ortoljer and ending .April 23. There 
were ti-n menilicrs at its organization. The rnember- 




Pruden. Photo. 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHDRCH. 




HlSTOPvlCAl. SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



lUiV 



F. I'KA/.IKH. 



sln[i 11. .w luiiiibi-rs iiinctrni, heiut; liiiiilnl 1" IwiiitN. 
■riie c.fficds lor m(>.i-'4 .n-r: Preside. U, Mr-. M. 1.. 
Curtiss- \-i,i-Prpsi(l.-iit, Mrs. C. S. Alin'ii-., Sp.nt.iiy 
rinil •rriMsLii-iT, Mrs. I.. C. Wnnd; AssisCuU Sorret.iry, 
Mrs I 1 KniM-r; I.m-cuIim' CoiiimiUc-p. Miss .\. .\. 
AriiislronK, Miss M, I-.. Sr,,tt and Miss A. K. H>«>d. 

The First Wesleyan Metlmdist Churrli of 
Senera Falls was orf;ani/pd Marcli jy, |S-|3. "'tl' ''"' 
followinR chartrr mrinhpis: .loscph Mt-lralf, William 
MfU-alf. John C. Kii.K. 1- '■ H'". l-<>'"n/o l.angdon. 
Saniueriavlor, C. .\, Mori is. An luhal.l ( )drll. ,Io,l 
Barker, I'., d. .lolinsoii, Davi.l CionmII, William 
Fox. v.. Partridge, D. Skidinore, C. S. (Irangcr, Hmn 
.1. Burton, Marvin S. Baird, Lemuel Stansluir\, j. \\ - 
Dickinbon, William Uussell and R. P. Hunt. 

.\t the I'lrst regularly tailed meeting of the sociitv 
.lohn C. Kmg! H. L. Wordni, .\hraiii lading. F. C). 
I.indsley, .h.seph MetcaU and Will. Fo.x were elected 
trustees. 

The church was composed in a large part of thos,' 
who about that time separated from the Methodist 
Episcopal church on the question of slavery. 

The lirst services were held in tlie old Seneca I' alls 
Academy building. The same year (1843) a repre- 
sentative was sent to the Utica convention and the 
Rev. George Pegler was secured as the lirst pastor. 
In 1845 the lirst church edihce was completed on the 
corner of Fall and Mynderse streets. This building 
was subsequentlv sold and a new and much better 
edil'ice erected on the corner of Fall and Clinton 
streets. It was in the first church building (corner of 
Fall and Mvnderse streets) that the first Woman's 
Rights convention ever held in .A,merica had its meet- 
ing, and prominent among those present at this 
gathering were .\nna Dickinson, Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton, Susan B. Anthonv, Mrs. Bloomer and others 
who declared themselves at least the equals of the 

"lords of creation." 

The following is a list of tliose who liave served 
this church as its pastors: Revs. Cieo. Pegler, S. S. 
Salisbury, S. Phillips, Benjaniin Bradford, D. i!. 
Douglas', S. n. I.ooniis, J. A. Swallow, H. B. Kniglil. 
Wm/'S. Bellas, Wm. W. Lyie, .\dani Crooks, C.I', 
Hawley, A. F. Deiiipsev, A. H. Kinney, C W. Hard\, 
I I.. Benton, S. Beelfard, A. T. Jennings, G. W. 



Story, H. W. McDowell, .las. H. BowenandS. F. 
I''razler, ' the present pasmr. The present board o( 
trustees are: David King, D. .\. Deiiiing, .1. H. 
Winters, A, \\ . Brim and George B. Crowell. 

Union No. 4.), Iron Moulders ,,( North Anieni a, 
was one of the first and oldest of labor organizations 
m Central New York. The first charter was granted 
Se|it. 4, iSl'.i, with the following ollicers and charter 
members: President, Fidel lierney; \'ice President, 
lelfeison Kobins:m; Recording Sec, James Curran: 
iiiiaiicial Sec, Justin Parmalie; Treasurer, Daniel 
Curran, Door Keeper, James McGraw; Correspond- 
ing Sec, Thomas J. Crosby. None of these are resi- 
dents of .Seneca Falls at the present writing and but 
three of them are living, James Curran. Daniel Cur- 
ran ,ind Justin Parmalie. James Curran became a 
lesideiii ,.f Korhester, N. ^■., several years ago. 
Daniel Curran is now ;i priest living in Indiana. 
P.iriiialir' removed to Chicago years ago and has 
been foreni:in of a large shop there for years. 

This Inion was in existence for several years and 
was re-organized Feb. i, 18S1, with the following 
officers and members: President, John Wentz: \'ice 
President, John .McDonald: I'inancial Sec, I rank 
McGuire: Recording Sec, Thomas McGill; Treasurer, 
Patrick Uvan; Corresponding Sei-., Cornelius Sulli- 
van Tw;. of them arc dead, John McDonald and 
Frank McGuire. Mr. Wentz, the first president of 
this re-organized Cnion isat present ioundry foreman 
lor the Gould Manufacturing Co. Thomas MagiU 
has been several vears engaged m the grocery busi- 
ness. The others "are still working at the trade. 1 he 
present organization is in a healths' and prosperous 
condition with a membership of 135, all in good 
standing. The I'nion has in the past successfully 
conducted manv social affairs, always with credit to 
the organization. The members have always taken 
an active interest in the allairs of the community and 




THK WKSl.EYAS .M ETH( IDIIST CIII'KI'H. 



't;UIl''S- HISIOKICAI. SorVKMR OK SKNl'CA lAI.I.S. 



4j 




lliiiniwud Pholu. ...r. 

KEV. S. M. NEWLAND. 

ninny have served as citizens in official life with 
iredit to themselves and their organization. The 
Iiiion has been a very conservative organization and 
has had but few labor difficulties in its history. It 
has paid out hundreds of dollars to its members in 
sick and death benehts, has always met its obliga- 
tions and stands to-day in high esteem with the 
business communitv of Seneca Falls. The present 
officers are: President, Joseph McKeon: Vice Presi- 
dent, Thos. Kirk; Mnancial Sec, Wallace Cushman; 
Rpcording Sec, Cieorge Rice; Corresponding Sec, 
llarrv Magill; Treas., Chas. .Ashley; Trustees, .loseph 
Campbell, Michael McCiuire, .lames Rogers; Inductor, 
Thos. W'eghorn: Hoor Keeper, John Pow. 

First Baptist Cluin-h.- .\t a meeting held in 
the M.huol h..u>e, July Us i>i-:S, the First Baptist 
church was organized and the following clntiil 
trustees: Fbenezer Ingalls, Harris I'sher, .loliii M 
Wheeton, Jonathan Metcalf, Xathan Farnsw(.rtli, 
Samuel Bradley, L. P. Noble, .-^bram Payne and 
I'honias Royston. Jonathan Metcalf was chosen 
president, L. P. Noble clerk and Harris Usher treas- 
urer. There were ten constituent members which by 
\ug. 14, was increased to fourteen. On Sept. i j, 
( )rsamus .Mien was ordained as pastor, salary S 200 
per vear and firewood. His pastorate, during uliich 
forty-five united with the church by baptism, ilosed 

.March 25, 1832. 

The first church building of the society was erected 
on Center street on the rear part of the lot now 
..ccupied bv the present church building. It was a 
frame building, 3(1x44 feet, with a basement. The 
lot was purchased of Ci. V. Sackett for S200. The 
building cost about S2000. The corner stime of the 
present church building was laid in i8f)S and ilir 
building dedicated on March 4, i86q. Rev. W.I I 
Mavnard, 1). IX, preaching the sermon. The cost of 
the lot with the house adjoining on the west was 
Sj.VKjanil the church building cost Sii,Hoo. 

■['he following is a list of the pastors and years of 
service since the church <irganization to present date: 
Rev. Orsamus Allen, two years, nine months; Rev. 
Henrv C. Vogel, two years, nine months; Rev. John 
JelTers, two vears; Rev. Zenas Freeman, three years: 



Rev. E. R. Pinny, two years; Rev. Nathan Baker, 
four years, one month; Rev. W. H. Half, one year, 
three months; Rev. William Frary, one year; Rev. 
William l.eggett, one year, two months; Rev. J. B. 
Pitman, two years; Rev. Ira Smith, eight months; Rev- 
C. C. Hart, seven months; Rev. Wm. Rees, one year; 
Rev. Ferris Scott, live years, four months; Rev. Ira 
Bennett, two years, nine montlis; Rev. B. F. Garfield, 
two years, three months; Rev. William R. Wright, 
(we years, two months; Rev. T. F. Williams, six 
months; Rev. R. B. Montgomery, one year, two 
months; Rev. John Gilchrist, two years, six months; 
Rev. Seward Robson, four years, four months; Rev. 
S. H. White, two years, two months. Rev. S. M. 
N'ewland, the present pastor, began his pastorate 
.\pril I, 1842. 

The present pastorate, that of Rev. S. M. New- 
land, has already more than doubled that of any 
other. There has been perfect harmony and a steady 
advance, the church having more than doubled its 
membership and all departments of church work and 
life. The Sunday school under the leadership of G. 
1. Pruden, has reached the highest average attend- 
ance within a period of more than 30 years. I hr 
present membership of the church is 240. 

Town Meetings. — The earliest in the town i>f 
Junius were as follows: 1804-05 at the house of 
Stephen Hooper, at the Kingdom; 1806 to 1810, at 
the house of Lewis Birdsall, at the Kingdom; 181 1 at 
the house of Jacob Chamberlain at the Kingdom; 
1812 to 1814, at the house of Gilbert Roberts, at 
Bridgeport; 1815 at the house of Lewis Birdsall, at 
the Kingdom; 1816, at the house of Pontius Hooper, 
at the Kingdom; 1817 to 1821, at the house of Jere- 
miah Decker, in the present town of Tyre; 1822, at 
the court house in Waterloo; 1S23, place not men- 
tioned; 1824, at the house of Jedediah Southwell, in 
the present town of Tyre. The places where town 
meetings were held in 1825, '26, '27 and '28 have nol 
been ascertained. .-\ special town meeting was hehl 
nn Nov. I. 181 :;, ,-it the house of .\sa Bacon northwest 
of Waterloo vill.ige. 




Prll.hri. I'liuto. 

THK FIRST BAPTIST CHIKIH. 



4f> 



"(iRiPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol- SFAT.CA KAI.I.S. 



Cross Post, \c). yK, G. A. R., Oept. of N. V., \v;is 
organized in i8fj8. The charter members were; 
Chas. J. Martin, Cieo. B. Davis, E. Ciolder, Wra. Fail- 
ing, W. H. Cjolder. Richard (iolder, Lorenzo Baker. 
Edward Rinker, Alex. Havit, deo. Speer, John Mor- 
ris, Elias Lester and H. \'. Matthews. The name 
"Cross" was adopted in honor of a family of that 
name which furnished six members — a father and live 
sons — to the cause of the union. Three of the num- 
ber sealed their devotion witli their lives. The officers 
of the Post for the vear 1903 were : Conimander,Geo. 
1''. Stevenson; S. V. Commander, William .Marion: 
.1. V. Commander, William Durnin; O. D., M. L. 
Waldo: O. Ci., B. S. Cain: Chap. R. S. denung; O. 
.M., R.J. Oobson; .\djt., P. W. Bailey; Sergt. Major, 
I. n. R:ice; O. M. Sergeant, |an!es Barton: Color 
Bearer, E. Iv. Waldo. 

The following named persons have been the Post's 
coiimianders: Chas. .1. Martin, iSf)8-'Q, 
Bailey, 1870: Frank.!. Silsby, 1871 
i873-'4, '-U; C. H. Traver, 1873; 



Brice W. 
.1. Marsh.all (iuion, 
Ira .Mniy, 1S77; 



its e.vistence averaged 2".; for the following livi' 
years, about 3'C, and for the past live years about 5 .. 
The present members of Cross Post are the survivors 
of a host that went out from home and friends to light 
the battles for the e.sistence of the I'nion in such num- 
bers as to make Sen ca I'alls the banner town, by 
furnishmg a larger percentage of its people for sol- 
diers and sailors lor that war than any other town- 
ship in our state. No battle was fought on sea or 
land during those four years but had its .Seneca Falls 
representative. There was no profession or traile 
that was distinctively drawn upon — all were I'qu.illy 
|ialrintii-. 

Supervisors of the town of Seneca Falls, i8ji|- 
uj04.-Ciarr\ ^'. Sarkett, i8jq: Jacob 1.. I.ar/elen', 
i8^o-'i; Jonathan .Metcalf, 1832; Isaac Smith, 1833- 
■(■; Xephaniali Lewis, 1837; .\nsel Bascom, 1838; Is- 
r.iel W. Squires, i83.|-'4i; John Maurice, 1842: James 
Sanderson, 1843; Cieorge B. Daniels, 1844: Saron W. 
iMlwards, 1843; Horace C. Silsby, i84f.-'7; IUisli;i 
l''oote, 1848; Orin Tvlcr, iS4i)-'3o: \\'illi;nii P. Pol- 




Pniden, I'liotii. SILVEU LIGHT HIVK, No. lu;i, 1.. 11. T. .M. 

Top Kow (left to rigiiH— rora liorrtner, Nellie Clark, Francis Harrison, Pianist; Hosa Liitlierinjfton, 
Soijliiii .steijfiniin. Sylvia Niles, Emma Labvechefsky. Second Row (left to ritrlit)— Mary F. .Stowell, Jeinne 

Maffill ■ ' " ■ " '■ '^-"--=-" >"•■•-'■• 

Thi " 

Sisson ^j .. — c w . ,. 

(left to riKht)— Celia M. Lindner, M. at A.; Anna Bordner, Lady Xaeut. Com.: Susie Kelley. 



Soijhia .steijfman. Sylvia Niles, Emma Labvechefsky. Second Kow (left to ritrht)— Mary f. .btoweii, Jennie 
MaKill, Augusta Doluer. Maria Hieharils, Catharine French, Catharine Woods, Anna Case.^ , Mary Callan. 
Third Row (left to riKlit)-ltriils;c-t Inn, Ida A.Taylor, Lady F. K.: Mary A. Wood, Lady Coin.; Mary h. 
Sisson, Lady Keeor.l Keeper; Eiiiina .-idkinson. Lady Sargent; Margaret Gilhnore, Lady Picket. Lower Kow 



Wm.J. Dillon, i87S-'4, i888-'.((>; John B.. Murray, 1880; 
T. M. Durham, i88i-'2; Chas. P.. Randolph, 1883-85; 
.■\sa Timmcrman, 188(1: Chas. C. Mosher, 1887; Jas. 
H. McDonald, 1891; Henry H. Jones, i8q2; Pryce W. 
Bailey, i8y3-'i)(j (resigned): W. L. (ioetchins, i8q(i-'q9; 
Henry Fegley, iqoo-'o2; tieo. V . Stevenson, 1903. 

.\U of the Post's records. Hags, pictures and me- 
mentoes of the civil war, together with its furniture 
(all of inestimable value) were totally destroyed in 
the great lire of July, 30, i8qo, which burned botli 
sides of the main (Fall) street of the \illage. The 
membership of nearly three hundred i8ti8, in which 
embraced nearly all grades of rank and every arm of 
the service, has been reduced by death and other 
causes to about one hund'ed at the present time. 

'Fhe .mnual death rate for llie lirst twentv years of 



lard, i83i-'3: Sebastian Chatiiam, 1834: ICdward L. 
Latham. 1833: Marliii I.. Bellows, i85(>; William 
liearv, 1837: John .\. Rumsey, 1838; Cieorge W. 
Davis, 1839; (George B. Daniels, i8tio-'3; Hiram Burt, 
i8fi4-'f): Ciilbert Wilcoxen, i8f)7-'4; I.eUoy C. I'art- 
ridge, 1870, [Mr. Partridge was re-elected in 1871, but 
resigned and .Mr. \'an .\uken was appointed',; Peter 
H. \'an .\uken, i87i-'v, Cieorge M. Ciuion, 1874: 
James D. I^ollard, 1873: William Ci. Wayne, i87(>; 
Willi.-mi Walker, 1877. '.Sj; M. De Lancev Bellows, 
1882-'). ICdward W. .\ddison, 1884; Franklin Moses, 
i883-'t.: Bronson .\. Wessell, 18S7; William J. Pol- 
lard i888-'c,; W. .\. Swaby L.itham, i8qo; Marvin 
Burroughs, i89i-'2; Horace .N. Rumsey, 1893: Win. 
\'. \'an Rensselaer, i8i)4-'7; .Moses C. Ciould, i8i)8; 
Cieorge \V. Pontius. i8mi-iqoi: H.DeLancey Knight, 
i902-'(; Willi.im B. ll.-irper, 11)04. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAI. SOUVKNIR OF SKNECA FALLS. 



4' 



Seneca Falls Tent, No. 24, Knights of the 
Maccabees, was instituted Marcli 4, 1886, liy Deputy 
Supreme Commander Withers of Ciilia, Xew York, 
The local order starteil with .1 mrnibersliip of si\. 
fi\r of whom are members still: — William H. Adkiu- 
sou, William j. I'ollard, Pryce W. I'.ailry, Perry C. 
Pontius and J. F_dwin Baker. .Maccabecism was in 
its infancy at this time and the reviews in Seneca 
Falls were few and far between. I'ntil .lanuary of 
njoj the membership had increased to only eleven, 
but the first claim for pa\nient of insurance — at the 
de.ith of W. W. Warner — was met so promptly by 
the supreme tent that from then the local tent has 
grown and prospered. 

Work was done under a dispens.ition until Oct. 
it), 1842, when ,1 charter was granted by the supreme 
order. 

'I'he hrst officers were:- Past Commander, Wm. H. 
.\dkinson: Commander, Wm. ,1. I'ollard: Lieutenant 
Conniiander, J. F. Baker; Record Keeper, C. M. Hall: 
F'in.ince Keeper, .A. C. Nfarsh; Chaplain, Louis John- 



The reviews are held the first and third Wednes- 
day evenings of each month in Radder's hall where 
e\'erv \"isiting Sir Knight \\'ill recei\"e ,a cordial 
welcome. 

The present officers are: Past Connnander, Chas. 
C. Johnson; Connnander, Robert ,S. ("lott; Lieutenant 
Commander, (leo. H. Ourham; Record Keeper, P. H. 
.Murrav: F'iiumce Keeper, .M. 1). Haines: Chaplain, 
Wm. B. Bailey: Phvsician, J. F.. Medden; .Sergeant, 
Lewis Cassort; .Master-at-arms, C. II. Watson; First 
Master of Guard, .1. H. Ceigler; Second Master of 
(iuard, .lohn Howerth; Sentinel, F". ¥.. Hartwell; 
Picket, (leorge May; Trustees, John L. Le \'an, 
Charles C. Johnson and E. L. Warbois. 

Rev. Dr. Diedrich Willers, who probably en- 
gaged in the longest peric d of preailiing of any preach- 
er in Seneca county, was a native of Bremen, Germany, 
born F'eb. f\ 1798, who served in the allied army four 
years, participating in the memorable battle of 
Waterloo, Belgium, June 18, 1815, He landed in 
.\merica in 1814 and in April, 1821, having been ad- 




I'niden, Photo. SKNECA FALLS TKNT, No. 'M, K. (I. T. M. 

Top How ilroiii li'lt In right)— Win. Caniptiell, .lolin Le Van. Geni-ge Durluim. Lewis Cassort, GeorgeMay, 
.liihn Howerlte. Middle Itow—Edson Warbois, Thomas Kyan, Dr. . I. E. Medden, Mathew Haines, Dr. .lohn 
Crosby, George W. Morris, .lolin ( lowi'. Lower Row-.loseph Babcock, Charles Johnson. William Adkiiison. 
Robert Gott, William Pollard. P. H. Murray. 



son: Phvsician. L. J. Dawley; Sergeant, Frank Cava- 
naugti; Master-at-arms. Pryce Bailey; First Master of 
Ciuard. James D. Smith: Se(iind .Master of Guard, 
R. Sherman; Sentinel, Perry C. Pontius: Picket. 

Henry C. Royce. 

There have been ten deaths from the tent with .a 
total of 821,300 paid in ilaims; .9>i,400 was also paid 
in an old age benefit and large sums have, at various 
times, been paid from the sick and accident fund. 
Seneca Falls Tent No. 24 h^^s now a good bank 
account. 

The .Maccabees have dispensed charity with a 
liberal hand not e.vcelled by any like organization 
in town. Thev have a membership of three hundred 
composed of some of the most inlluential and best 
citizens of the village. The degree team prepared 
with uniform regalia for initiatory work is one of the 
best in the state. 



mitted to the ministry, located in Seneca county. 
He preached (in German and later in ICnglisli to the 
Cierman Reformed church at Bearytown) for sixty 
years and eight months. During his long pastorate 
he preached about five years in Hooper's school house, 
Kingdom, and twenty years, beginning with 1834, 
at the Seneca church, one and a half miles south of 
the Kingdom, in the town of Seneca Falls; al.so for 
two years, 1841) and 'jo, at the Bridgeport school 
house, and for twentv-five years, commencing with 
1858, to the Germans in Seneca Falls village. He 
,ilso for various periods, preached at Jerusalem church 
in F'ayette and at Waterloo. Besides a twenty-live 
years' pastorate in Tompkins county, he preached for 
several years at points in Cayuga, Wayne and Liv- 
ingston counties. Most of his travel during the early 
years of his ministry was performed on horseback. 
He died in X'arick May 13. 188^. in the 8(,tli ye.ir of 
his age. 



48 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




OldPh.ilii. KEY, A. W. HKOAUWAV. 

Blethodist l'.pi«i>p;il Cliunli -Itinirant preachers 
lield tile lir^t -.ervices at Seneca I'alls in 1797. Prior 
to 1S2H the itinerant preacliers who canie here were 
Revs. Riley, Bennett, l.anning, Wni. Rnuvn, Fair- 
child, Prindle, liilmore, Kimherlaiii, Diulsnn. I.oren 
(."■rant. Palmer Ivoberts, Chester Aldgate, WilUani 
Jones, l\else\'. Snou and Sabins. in i^^ij a class 
existed here and meetings were held in Case Cole's 
U)g house corner of Ovid and Ba\"ard streets. The 
members were Mr. and .Mrs. Case Cole. Mr. and Mis. 
Nathaniel Sweet and Messrs W'ithain and 
Flynn and their wives. -\ class formed in 
1828 included Mr. and Mrs. Peter Marceloiis. 
his sister Mary .\nn, Phoebe Petty, after- 
wards Mrs. Schoono\-er, .lane .Miu)re (.Mrs. 
Stearns), Mrs. Pitcher and Catharine Mead 
iMrs. McKeei. Meetings were then held al 
the house of Peter Marcelous on liridge 
street. I- rom this and other classes which 
united the lirst Methodist church wa-. 
. organized Jan. 6, 1824. .\nsel Basconi. 
James Ksse.x, Joseph Metcalf, Stephen B. 
Ciay and Peter Marcelous were the hrst 
trustees. Rev. Wni Kent was the preacher. 
.■\ subscription for a church building was 
started, headed by Joseph Metcalf with 
Sjoo. On July 30, 1830 Wilhelmii-- 
Mynderse deeded the present site of the 
church to the trustees, Joseph Metcalf, John 
Isaacs, .\ndrew Brown, John M. Wheaton 
and Henry Marcelous. Work on the 
structure was started in the summer of 
1830 but it was not completed until the 
spring of 1831. Before winter set in it had 
been enclosed and roofed and seats had 
been placed temporarily so that it was 
used during the winter of 1830-1. Peter 
and Henry Marcelous worked on tlir 
interior until it was completed taking theii 
pay purely in contributions such as the 
(i)ngregation provided for the support of 
their families. The cost of the edifice was 
*> 3,000. 

In 1834 Levi Rogers and his wife Lorana Pi-mU-n 



deeded the society a site for the parsonage. In 1857 
the church was remodelled and enlarged at the cost of 
nearly §3,000. In 187 1 the old church was torn 
down and the present edihce was erected at the cost 
of 821,000. In 1882 the altar and pulpit were rebuilt, 
the house refurnished with seats and the floor newlv 
carpeted costing Si.joo. In the spring of i8qi the 
young ladies of the church started a subscription 
paper for a pipe organ which was built with an 
electric motor, the cost being I?! 2,000. In the spring 
of i8c)4 J. \'an Wyck i.ooniis presented the church 
with a new bell, as a "soldiers' memorial." llie 
church was dedicated July 24, 1872, Bishop Cilbert 
Haven, Ke\ . W'm. I . I.loyd and Rev. R. Hogoboom 
conducting tlie services, [acob P. Chamberlain, a 
large subscriber for the new building personalis 
supervised its erection and he brought to completiiiu 
a handsome building. 

The pastors from the beginning are as follows; 
Rev. Ebenezer l.attimer, i834-'5: Rev. Robert Parker, 
i83j-'6; Rev. Thomas Carlton, i836-'7; Rev. John 
l'".aster, i837-'i): Rev. Seth Mattison, i83g-'4o; Rev. 
Kanslev Harrington, i84o-'2. i849-'5o; Rev. D. F. 
Parsons, 1842-3; Rev. Calvin S. Coats, i843-'4, 
ihjq-'fao; Rev. .Alexander Farrell, i844-'6; Rev. 
Joseph T. .Arnold. i84()-'8; Rev. .A. C. Cieorge, i848-'4; 
Rev. Elijah Wood, 1850-2: Rev. David Crow, i852-'4: 
Rev. David Ferris, i854-'b; Rev. .\. N. Filmtire, 
iSjf-'S; Rev. Wm. Hosmer, i8,8-'q; Rev. [. W 
Wilson, i86o-'2: Rev. .\. S. Baker, !8fi2-'5; Rev. 1 
Warts, i865-'(i; Rev. .Martin Wheeler, i8Mi-'9: Rev. 
1^. P. Huntington, i8hij-'y2; Rev. Isaac N. Ciihbard, 
i8;2-'4; Rev. Cieorge S. White, iiS74.'(); R'ev. H. B. 
Cassavant. i87fi-'9; Rev. Theron Cooper, l879-'8i; 
Rev. ,\. N. Damon, i88i-'84; Rev. Thomas Tousev, 
i884-'87; Rev. K. A. Tuttle, 1887-90; Rev. Charles 
1'.. Jewell, i8c)0-'i|4: K'ev . Arthur Copeland, i894-'9c); 




f'liutu. THi; IIUST METHODIST CHLKCH. 



"CRIP'S" HISTORICAI. S<)U^•1■:^•IR OF SFA'ECA FALLS. 



49 



Rev. Kzra Tinker, iSqg-igoi: Rev. H. E. Frohock, 
lyoi-'oj; Rev. A. W. Broadway, 1903. 

The present oflirers of the church are; Official 
Hoard — Class leaders: Richard Golder, H. \V. Gilbert. 
Stewards: G. B. Xearpass, D. B. Mosher, H. L. Wil- 
liams, John Wentz; .\. \V. Golder district steward, 
J. B. Howell secretary and treasurer, .A. M. Shepard, 
-\. H. Shrmipton, Samuel Kibbey, Lewis C. Johnson, 
S, A. S. Wormsted. Trustees: .\jah R. Palmer presi- 
ilent, Richard Golder treasurer, Albert P. Haney, 
1 ). B. Mosher, George W. Barlow, Charles T. 
Andrews, George H. Cushing, Marcus Pease, J. D. 
Boardman. Sundav school superintendent, .\. W. 
Golder. 

The societies in the church and their officers are: 

Ladies .Aid Society -President, Mrs. H. O. Enos; 
\"ce President, Mrs. D. M. Kellogg; Secretary, Mrs. 
.\. R. Palmer; Treasurer, Mrs. S. Kibbey. 

W'onians l-'oreign Missi'inarv Socletv -President, 



north from the point where the New York Central 
railroad crosses the Seneca river, a short distance 
east of Seneca F'alls village. 

The Ep^vorth League of Seneca Falls was or- 
ganized in the [■ irst M. K. Church of Seneca Falls, 
.\. v., in January, i8y2, during the pastorate of Rev. 
C. E. Jewell. Before this time the voung people of 
the church were banded together in the society of 
Christian Endeavor. The Seneca Falls League be- 
longs to the .\uburn District and two of the District 
conventions have been held here; one in July, 1892, 
and the other in June, 1903. The motto of the 
League is, "Look up, lift up," and its object to pro- 
mote intelligent and vital piety in the young mem- 
bers and friends of the church and train them in 
works of mercy and help. The society organized 
with a membership of 76 and its present roll of mem- 
bers numbers 155. The officers elected in January, 
iqo2, for the term of one vear were: President, Ida 




THE EPWORTH LEAGUE, M. E. CHTRCH. 

Top Row (from left to riKht)— L. J. Stronjr, Marg-uerite Kibbey, Lee Howell, Minnit- Bri^uall, Lillian 
Ruthraufi:. Sarali .Jithnson, Wilhelniina Eastman, A. W. Golder, Charles Schuman. Seconil Row— Anna Hop- 
per, Harry Sturjfiss, Mrs. ,lohn Odell, Clara Mosher, Mrs. W. C. Meyer, 1) 'ulah .Morehouse. Rev. A. W. Broad- 
way, Mrs' ,J. L>. Iloanluian, (Hlie Smith, .Mrs. Claud Hamlin, Xt'llie Simpson. Beulah Yodir. Third Row- 
Edna Xearpass. Edith Pratt. Claud Hamlin, Fannie Amidun, H. W. Uilt)ert. Ida M. Slahl. Ida M. Golder. Ray 
Brijrnall. Flora M. Co.v. W. C. Moyer. Fourth Row— Jay Moyer. Max Howell, Samuel Odell, Elliott Kibbey, 
Vernon Wheat, Mrs. H. Sturgiss, Mildred Odell, Beth Fiohoi k, Laura Haney, Edna Nearpass, Bertha Bishop. 



Mrs. S. Kibbey: Secretary, Miss Fannie Wickes; 
Treasurer. Mrs. Harriet C. McMichael. 

Womans Hume Missionary Society — President. 
-Miss Franc Guinnip; \'ice President, Mrs. L. C.John- 
son; Secretary. Mis^ Ida J. Golder; Treasurer, .Mrs. 
Fred Savage. 

Epworth League — President, Miss May Stahl; 
\'ice President. Howard Gilbert; Secretary, Claude 
Hamlin; Treasurer, Miss Fannie Amidon. 

Kings Daughters — President, Mrs. Fred Shuman; 
Secretary. Miss Clara Mcjsher. 

The Salt Springs, known ti> exist when white 
settlers first came to Seneca county, and spoken of 
by the Jesuit missionaries two and a half centuries 
ago, were described (by Father Raffeix 1672) as being 
a mile and a half north-west of Tiohero, an Indian 
village situated at the foot of Cavuga lake nearly 
opposite the present "Mud Lock." Gen. John S. 
Clark of Auburn, says the springs were located ( 1779) 
on the west side of the marsh about half a mile 



M. Stahl: First Vice President, Howard \V. Gilbert; 
Second \'ice F'resident, Ida Golder; Third \'ice Presi- 
dent, Flora .M. Cox; Fourth \'ice President, Ray 
Brignal; Secretary, Claude S. Hamlin; Treasurer, 
Fannie .\midon. 

Silver Light Hive, Xo. 102, L. O. F. M., was 

organized July 21, 1893, by Deputy Great Com- 
mander Lady Burhend of Buffalo, with seven charter 
members, 'i he growth of the Hive has been sui'h 
that it is aEuong the largest in Central New '\'ork. 
Ihe first meetings were held in Grand .Army Hall. 
.Afterwards the Hive removed to Pythian Hall where 
they meet at the present time. The present officers 
are P. L. C, Ida Hamill; Lady Commander, .Mary 
A. Wood; Lieut. Com., .^nna Bordner: Record 
Keeper, Mary \:. Sisson: Finance Keeper, Ida A. 
Tavlor; Chaplain, .Mary A. Secor; Sargeant, Emma 
J. .Adkinson; Mistress-at-.\rms, Celia M. Lindner; 
Sentinel, Mary C. Radder; Picket, Margaret Gilmore; 
Pianist, Frances Harrison. 



.5° 



■•(;kIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




llilllCHVL-d I'iKltc 



KKV. \V.\I. H. CLAKKK. 



Trinity I'mtrstniit Kpiscop;il cliurLh \v;is organ- 
ize! .laii. I i. iK^i, at a meeting lield in I'ranklin 
Institute. Kev. Ri-iiben Hubbard, the lirst rectur, 
presided. Julin Morgan was secretary. The lirst 
wardens were Lewis Bi.vby and John Isaai-s: vestry- 
men, Gary \'. Sacket, .Anthony Dey, John Morgan. 
Samuel Payne, Scnter M. Giddings, George K. Free- 
man, Stephen B. tiay and Chaunrey 1- . Marshall. 
Services were hrst held in Bixby's school mom, the 
second storv of Hill tS: Peck's building, still standing 
on Cavuga street. While the first church edihce was 
being budt services were held over the post othce, in 
the building now standing at the north-east corner 
of Bayard and Ovid streets. 

The certihrate of incorporation 
was signed bv the rector, .\bner 
X. Beardsley, and Stephen S. 
N'iele. The lirst rite of confirma- 

tinn was administered Aug. 7, 

1831, by Rt. Rev. Benjamin T. 
Onderdonk, D. D , bishop of the 
diocese of New York. Rev. Seth 

Davis, the second rector, came in 

1M32 and in November tjf that 

\'ear a subscriptitm ft)r a ciiurcli 

edifice was started. The site was 

purchased of .Ansel Bascom for 

Sjoo, half cash and halfchunh 

paper. Rev. Jesse Pound became 

rector July, 1^33, and on Nov. 

18, 1833, the corner stone of the 

hrst church building was laid, tlie 

services being conducted bv Rev. 

J. C. Rudd of Auburn.' The 

church was consecrated July 27, 

1S34, bv Bishop Onderdonk, 

assisted by the rector and Revs. 

William Lucas and Richard S. 

Mason, U. I)., a class of hfteen 

Ijeing conliimed in the evening ol 

the same day. The new building 

consisted of a b.asement of stou' 

;md superstructure ol wood now 

standing <in Fast Bayard street 

and used for factory purposes. It 

served the purposes of the young I'luden, Plmti 



church well until the present beautiful church edifice 
on East Fall street was opened, Easter Sunday, April 
25, 1886. The corner stone of this imposing structure 
was laid June 2, 1883. The tower rising to a height 
of 105 feet, was partly taken down during the sum- 
mer of 1903 [the picture shown in this work was 
taken prior thereto] for the purpose of changing its 
general stvle above the roof of the building. It is 
one of the prettiest and most tastefully finished of 
church edifices in this part of the state. The extreme 
length is 105 feet, width 73 feet and height 44 feet, 
the material being native blue lime stone and the 
trimmings of Onondaga limestone. The foundation 
rests upon solid rock, prepared for it by blasting. 
There are three entrances to the main vestibule 
which is floored with stone and lined with white 
brick. The entrance to the nave is through three 
arches closed with swinging panels of quartered oak. 
.\1I interior finishings are in natural wood, the ceil- 
ing of white pine, the wainscotting of the nave and 
and the pews of ash, the wainscotting of the chancel 
quartered oak, the pulpit carved oak and the com- 
munion rail polished oak supported by brass stand- 
ards. The entire cost of site and building was $40,- 
000. 

It was during the pastorate of Rev. Robert Ouen- 
nell, in 1883. the semi-centennial of the church, that 
the first move was made towards securing the new 
building, and under the pastorate of Rev. Fianklin 
W. B.irtlett that the corner stone was laid. Res . 
H. M. Denslow was rector at the time of the com- 
pletion of the building, when the debt was wiped 
out and the church consecrated, the latter event 
occurring Sept. 10, 1890, conducted by Rt. Rev. 
F. 1). Huntington bishop of the diocese. 

The old building, still standing as a monument to 
the energv and faith of the earliest pioneers in the 
parish, wiis in 18.. i the scene of a patriotic event, 
when Trinity parishioners were gathered to speed tin- 
departure of her sons enlisted in defense of their 
country. Rev. John M. Guion was then the rector 
and his two sons, together with the members of the 




rill.NlTV El'I.^CUl'AL cm KCH. 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 



company with which they were about to leave on 
their country's call, bent upon their knees over the 
"h\ flag at the altar of the church and received the 
blessing of their father. The two boys returned 
home as Gen. (ieorge M. Guion and Maj. J. .Marshall 
Guion. The cliurcli i> at present in a flourishing 
condition and under the present rector's administra- 
tion is an active agency for good works in the coni- 
iiiunitw 

The rectors of the church were Rev. Reuhen Hub- 
bard installed Jan. 13, 1S31; Rev. Seth Davis, in 
1S3J; Rev. Jesse I'ound, July, 1833: Rev. Robert 
Campbell (missionary), 1835; Rev. Henry 'Fullidge, 
October, 1836, retired in 1838; Rev. Charles (i. 
.\ckley. supply, in 183^, installed rector April, 1840; 
Rev. IVnjamin Franklin installed in 1844. served one 
vear: Rev. Rulus .Miirrav, came in ]84f^: Rev. Mal- 



M. Kollett, Hamilton Garnsey. John M. Guion, Wm. 
M. Harper, Cjeorge H. Freeland. 

The following are the officers ol the societies of 
the church: .Missionary Guild, .Mrs. A. G. Swaby. 
vice president: Ladies Building l-und society, Mrs. 
G. P. Rogers, jjresident: Trinity Church Guild. Mrs. 
Wm. B. Clarke, president: St. Cecelia's Guild, Miss 
Lmma Scheline, directress: the Rector's (juild, Mrs. 
R. P. Lathroj) and Miss Xora Daniels, directresses. 
Other important and helpful parish agencies are: 
The Industrial society. Sisters of .Mercv and Sewing 
School which nie't weekly during the winter months. 

First Civil Officers of Seneca County receive<l 
their conmiissions from a council of appointments 
(Gov. George Clinton, John Broome, Caleb Hvde 



and Thomas Tredwell) which met 
2, 1S04. Those appointed: 



at .\lbanv. .\pril 




Pruden, Photo. THE VESTED CHOIR OF TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHTRCH. 

1, Rev. Wm. H. Clarke. Rector. 2. John Guion. 3. Georg-e Lyke, 1. Georsre L'tley, .5. Tracey Wells. 6. Chas. 
.lohnson. T. W. Errinj-'ton. H. Harriett Savajre. ii. ..largaret 'Latham. 10. Cora Beck. 11. Lucy Latham, 13, 

Gertrude Somers. i:i. Bertba L>ke. U. Mary Withers, l.i. .Jennie Xarkle. 16. Jeanette Errington. IT, 

IS. Romayn Utley. 19. Lulu Morris. 2(1. Edith Falirenwald. 21. Francis Emery. 22. Harry Mickley, 23, Jane 

Adkinson. 24. Harry Davis, 2.^. Jane Wildberry. 2H. Susan Seymour. 27. Crosby. 2H. Latham, 29. 

Olean Lyke, 30, Herbert Fleraming. 31, Schoolmaker, :i2, Develle Pollard, 33, Fahrenwald. 



com Douglass. 1849: Rev. Charles Woodward. 1851: 
Rev. John M. Guion, 1855 (rector 21. years); Rev. 
Warren C. Hubbard (assistant rector i873-'6), rector 
i^jd-'y: Rev. D'Orville Doty, rector two months in 
1877; Rev. C. Mcllvaine Nicholson, i877-.\ugust 18S0; 
Rev. S. W. Strowger. a short time in 1880; Rev. 
Rol)ert G. Ouennell, December i88o-'84; Rev. 
Iranklin W. Bartlett, temporary for a short time: 
Rev. H. M. Denslow. July j, 1885-June ij, '93: Rev. 
W. B. Clarke, present rector, installed Sept. 15, 1893. 
The present wardens are Lansing S. Hoskins, 
William B. Lathrop; vestrymen, Stephen D. Mickley, 
\. Seymour Pollard clerk, George P. Rogers, Wm. 



Judges and Justices of the Peace — Cornelius 
Humphrey, Grover Smith and John Savre. 

.Assistant Justices — Jonas Whiting of Ulysses, 
James Van Horn of Ovid, Asa Smith of Romulus and 
Benajah Boardman of Washington. 

Justices of the Peace — James Jackson, Stephen 
Woodworth and John Townsend, jr., Ovid: Fhomas 
Shepard, Ulysses; Daniel Everts, Hector; John Hood, 
Washington; Lewis Birdsall and Jesse Southw^ick, 
Junius. 

Surrogate — Jared Sanford. 

Countv Clerk — Silas Halsev. 

Sheriff~Wm. Smith. 

Coroner — Charles Thompson. 



■'(;klP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVKNIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Wilhelmus Mynderse, the earliest resident 
pniprietiiv of a large portion of the site of Seneca 
Falls — owning a one-fifth interest in the Bayard 
Land Co., then the owners of the land and water 
power where Seneca Falls village stands and of which 
company he was resident business agent for thirty 
venrs — located here permanentlv in 1795. No other 
single indiviikial had as nuich to do with the begin- 
ning of the settlement here, its subsequent growth to 
a prosperous village and the location hereof earl\ 
industries as Wilhelmus Mynderse. 

The year he came here he erected a grist and a saw 
mill and a double log house, the latter being located 
next to where Trinity church now stands. He lived 
in one end and kept store in the other. The mill 
which was put in operation in 1796 stood on the 
present site of Chamberlain's mill. In 1807 he 
erected the red mills on the lowrr rapids near Ruin- 



Jan. 31, 1838, in the house he built and lor years 
(-)ccupied. 

Mr Mvnderse li\ed to see a flourishing village 
spring from a forest. He did much to encourage its 
growth. The village park was his gift to the viUagf 
and he was a generous patron of the .Academy which 
bears his name— now part of the puljlic school sys- 
tem. He contributed the site and furnished the 
greater part of the means for building the original 
building. 



\\. Robeits.— "When I 
about 1H40," says Hiram 




Recollections. Hiram 
lirst came to Seneca Falls 

M. Roberts, "th^re were only two houses on tht- 
south side of the river east of Ovid street, one of 
them being known as the Mumford house now occu- 
pied bv Mrs. Owen W. Smyth. The other house 
stood just below the present Gould shop. William 
Gavlord then conducted two meat markets, one on 
Canal street near Bridge street and the other on 
Ovid just north of the bridge. 
Three years later myself and 
inv cousin Truman 15. .lohu- 
son, bought one of Caylord'-- 
ni.irki-ts which we conductid 
for about tliirt)' years. In 
1S40 practically all the busi- 
ness was done on the south 
side of the river, on firldge 
street, and Canal was the 
piini ipal residence street. I 
remeniber the lirst steam cars 
that passed through here. 
.\mimg the early business 
Luen were John Xi yhart, .Mrs. 
I\r>bprts"s brother, who con- 
ducted a "pop works" and 
bowling alley on Canal street. 
The late George B. Daniels 
conducted a grocery store on 
Canal street near Bridge. 
Wliere the \\-ooleu mills now 
stand were several residences 
.lud where the Seneca I''alls 
M a n u I a during Company's 
building is \'incent Matthews 
pt 



\li 



PIONEERS OF TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
Top Row (left to rig-ht)— Lewis Bi.xby, First Sr. Warden 1831; John Fitch, 
Warden IH44-'S4; De.vter C Bloomer, Warden l.s40. Bottom Row— Samuel Payne, 
First \'cstryman: Carleton Wliite Seeley, "N^eetryman. died Nov. 12, IstiT: George 
Arnold, 40 years Warden, born Aujf. 1, 1S03, died "in !H)th year. 

sry's. He also erected a fulling mill and other small 
industries. His various Investments proved prolitable 
and he was a man of strict business methods. His 
w. IS I he very first industry hiMe. The entries of his 
iiiillmg and merchandise business date as early as 
.■\l)ril 20, 1796. The first entry of sales from his grist 



I79f. 



In 1801 he was appointed 
n the mditia of which he soon 
In 1807 he was conimissioned 



mill dates Oct. J2, 
lieutenant-colonel 
became colonel, 
brigadier- genera I. 

During his residence here Col. Mynderse lived in 
four towns as they were successively organized, 
Ronmlus (first in Cayuga cfuinty). Washington, 
.lunius and Seneca halls, and held man\- public 
t>tHces. 

He was born at .\lbany, July 11, 17O7, and died 



kept a meal markei. \ 
Tillman owned a sawmill 
whii'h stood at the south enti 
of the dam back of the 
National .\dvprtising Com- 
pany's works, which was 
operated bv a man named 
Samuel Smith who rolled the 
logs to the mill, one by one, by 
hand. Both sides of Bridge 
Street from the river bridge to Bayard street was built 
n|i with stores which did considerable retail business. 
The first l)ridge built on Bridge street went down a 
few N'ears after 1 came here, with a stage coach and 
several passengers, one of whom was nearly killed. 
I remember the hotel called W;ishington ll.ill wliii h 
stood on the site of the present (lould shoji \(.. 1 on 

Ovid street." 

SENECA COUNTY CENTENNIAL 

On Man'h nith ne.\t(l904) is the lootli .inniver- 
sary of the otlicial organization of Seneca county, 
Diedrich Willars writes. "Now is a good time. " he 
adds, "to collect and preserve data as to its early 
settlement and history for preservation in the several 
towns." 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SEXECA FALLS. 



33 




roof M'ork. In thr l\'mpaTium of the gable is an 
elegant rose windmv thirteen feel in diameter and 



lli.rr, 



wr,l I'll,. I,). 

HEX'. 



II. (JllANT I'ERSON. 



The Presbyterian clmrcli is the nldt-st church 
• irgani/aticin in Seneca Falls, being nearly n century 
■ lid. It \yas lormed in 1807, imly three years after 
the county was organized. Uey. Jedediah Chapman 
of Cieneva. who vyas the pioneer missionary in these 
parts, organized what was then known as "The First 
I'resbyterian Church of Junius " on Aug. 10, 1807. 
The meeting of the presbytery for this organization 
was held in a bam owned by Col. Daniel Savre which 
stood south of the turnpike on the hill a short dis- 
tan.e west of the old Cayuga bridge. There were 
four elders ordained, namely, I'eter Miller, Dayid 
Luunn, Stephen Crane and .lohii Pierson, and 
eighteen members were recorded. The first pastor 
w.-is key. .lohn Stuart who was not installed until 
-\ugust 24, 1808. For some years the seryices were 
held in a school house which stood on Cavuga street 
just south of the' present church on the lot occupied 
by the residence of Mr. OTveefe. The present site 
was giyen to the society by Col. Mynderse and on 
Sept. 17, 1817, a wood building was built by 
.lacob Hoyey and Jafcez Stark. In 1842 this building 
v\as remoyed to State street where it was long known 
as Concert Hall and where it still stands occupied by 
.Mr. K. .1. Ryan as i\ fyrniture store. In that same 
year a brick building vyas erected on the same site 
by William Latham and occupied for nearly thirty 
years. On Sept. 12, 1871, the corner stone of the 
present handsome and commodious edifice was laid 
during the pastorate of Rey. J. D. Krum, D. D. The 
building was erected by Ruel Taylor, who was not 
only a builder but had formerly been a minister, it 
was hnished and dedicated on Jan. 4, 1873, the dedi- 
catory sermon being preached by Rey. .Anson J. 
Upson, 1). D., LL. D., then of A'ibanv, and later 
Chancellor of the Uniyersity of New' York. The 
cost of the building was about S6o,ooo. It has been 
thus described: "The edifice is built in moderr 
I'^nglish Ciothic style of pressed brick with cut stone 
arches. The front is flanked by a large and small 
tower, the large tower being 166 feet in height and 
the small one 90 feet. The entrances in these 
towers open into a spacious yestibule from which 
are stairs to the auditorium and the basement. The 
front presents a Gothic gable with corbeled coping 
and beam tracery corresponding with the interior 



Thr anditririum is 57 
sides, ilii- whole being 
rr gotliii' roof iiuistii'd 
( hly frescoed and the 
glass. The basement 
., |iarlors and kitchen." 
rgan was placed by the 



Gould 1)\- their 

. l.amlj of New 

(■( »!■ ir, rep: esent- 



lilled \yith intricate lracer\'. 

liy S4 fri't, 24 feet high at tl 

coyercd with an open lini 

with ash. The walK an- 1 

windovys are of rich slani( 

includes Sunday sidionl ro, m 

In 1898 a large two-inanuel 

W. W. Kimball Co. of Chicago, which has 46 stops 

and 1908 pipes and is hnished in quartered oak and 

mahogany. In 1902 a memorial window was placed 

in memory of Mr. and .M s. S. S, 

children. It w.is made b\ |. cS; R 

Vcirk and is e-\c]uisite in design and 

iiig the resuirection. 

The following ha\c- served tlie 1 luiic li as pastors 
and stated supplies: Key. John Stuart 1X12, Rey. C. 
Mosher 1813, Rey. Shipley Wells iMi4-'i6, Rev. S. 
M. Wheelock 1817, Rey. William Bacon i8i8-'22, 
Rey. A. G. Orton, D. D, 1823-35, '^<"\- William Gray 
i83j-'38, Rev. Aaron Judson i838-'40, Rey. P. L. Vail 
i84o-'43, Rev. H. P. Bogue i843-'48, Re\-. Ale.xander 
McCall i849-'3i. Rev. Jcisiah Hopkins, D. D., 1851- 
'jj. Rev. Charles Rav i855-'56. Rev. William J. 
Jennings i8j7-'fi2, Rey'. A. D. Eddv, D. D., i862-"64. 
Rev. J. D. Krum, I). D., i865-'79, Rev. L. H. Morev 
i88o-'88, Rev. E. H. Dickinson, D. D., i8S9-'.j7. The 
present pastor, Rev. H. Grant Person, was installed 
in June, 1898. During long interims the pulpit has 
been supplied by such men as Professors Hall, Gon- 
dii, Beecher and Riggs of .\uburn Theological 
Seminary and Rev. W. H. Webb, D. D., of Spring- 
field, Mass. 

The present elders are C. 
Joseph Kaul, E. J. Leonard, H. 
D. Knight, T. M. Sherman, H. 
and B. N. Baker; Trustees, S, 
T. I. Yawger Sec'y, C. S. Hood Treasurer, H. C. 
Silsby, E. W. Addison and L, C. Strong. 

The church has long been noted in this region for 



.\. Hawley. LL. D., 
.A. Carmer, Esq., H. 
Schoonmaker, M. 1)., 
S. Ciould President, 




Pruden, Photo. 

THE PRESBYTERTAX CHTRrH. 



.H 



•■GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



its strong Sundav school. For many years it was 
superintended by Mr. C. A. Hawlcy and .Mr. S. S. 
Could, and now Mr. II. A. Carmer is the superin- 
tendent. 

'I'he Woman's .Missionary Society >)( the ihur<li 
was organized nearlv thirty years ago and is a strong 
missionary force at present. Mrs. Elias Lester is the 
president and the membership is larger to-day than 
ever before. They give to the support of a worker 
in both the Home and Foreign held and prepare 
boxes for schools. T'heir gifts some years reach 
atiout Syx). 

.\nother verv efiicient society in connection with 
the church is the King's Daughters. The history of 
this organization is as follows: In 18S2 the Sundav 
school classes of Mis. K. B. Fancher and Mrs. E. W. 
.\ddison formed a society of Willing Workers for 
service along the lines of practical Christianity. Ihis 
society grew in numbers and efficiency till 18.S7 
when' Mrs. C. .\- Hawlev formed her class into a 
circle of The King's Daughters which organization 
had been started in New York the year previous. 
Soon after this the Willing Workers adopted the 
same name and joined the International Order of 
The King's Daughters. Mrs. E. W. .\ddison was 
chosen the first president and served in this capacity 
till 189V .\fter this Mrs. H. D. Knight ser\ed three 
years, Miss Anna Maier one year. Miss Mary Cham- 
berlain two years, Mrs. W. H. Scollin one year and 
then in 1902 Mrs. Addison was elected again and 
still serves. The Society has over 125 members 
divided into eight circles.' The second State conven- 
ticm was held here under their auspices in 1902. The 
Society is a great force in the community, going 
bevond denominational lines and doing much prac- 
tical service in harmony with the motto, 'Not to be 
ministered unto but to minister" and the watchword 
"In His Name." 

The X. P. S. C. E. oi the church was organized m 
1887 and the Junior C. V.. in 1897. This organ- 
ization has done and is doing much for the develop- 
ment of christian character and is a fine training 
school for church membership and service. Mr. B. 
R. Wells is the president at present. There are 
several other societies such as the German Sewing 
Societv, the Church .\id Society and bands that are 
helpful and inspiring. 

The choir of the church is directed by Mr. C. S. 
Sanderson who produces a fine class of music and is 
constantlv improving this department of the worship. 
Miss Wilhelmina Brown is the graceful and efiicient 
organist and the quartet are Mrs. F. M. Severson, 
soprano. Miss Pauline Meehan, contralto, Mr. Jame? 
Schoonmaker, tenor and Mr. C. S. Sanderson, baritone. 
The church is to-day in a healthy condition and 
strong in all it's departments. It has a membership 
of 600, gave about $2,200 to benevolence last year 
and about .§7,000 to all departments of work; is 
constantly having additions to membership and 
making improvements to property. It is grateful for 
it's past and faces the future with an e:irnest courage. 

Junius; Its Name— [By Diedrich Willers]. — This 
town received the name in common with classical 
designations of the rest of the Military townships — 
from the word so popular at Rome in its zenith of 
power, and frequently the name of Roman celebreties; 
Lucius [unius Brutus and Marcus .lunius Brutus for 
example. .lunius was also the Latin for the sixth 
month of the year. 

Great notoriety was obtained for "the letters of 
Junius," a series of f,>rty-five political letters appear- 
ing in the Public .Advertiser, a London newspaper, 
from 1769 to 1772, during the last year of the admin- 
istration of the Duke of Grafton and the two first 
years of Lord North's. These letters treated of the 
"state, of the nation" and kindred subjects while 



opposing the British ministry and faMuing the cause 
of civil libertv just prior to the .American revoluticm. 
The authorship of the letters was at the time a mat- 
ter of conjecture, and even now the name of the 
author has not been positively ascertained. 

Early Industries; tin- ^I;lllufal tur.- o( Wo.uleii 

Pumps; the !■ irst Iron Pump; the first Kotar\ 

Steam Fire Engine; the Stove Regulator Industry. 

Wilhelmus Mynderse started a saw mill in 1795, a 

flouring mill in 1796 and the sec<md Himr mill in 

].So7. .\ fulling mill near the [iresent Rumsey sh..i>s 

was built in i8ofi, work upon it beginning May i,;. 

.\iulrpw P. Tillman built the tannery, afterwards 

used by Downs & Co. for manufacturing purposes, in 

1824. .\l)ram and Samuel Payne erected a fiour mill 

on the upjirr level in 1825, 

iwriiii MU-i.s 
were run here 111 a building erected by Chauncey 
Marshall, G. \'. Sackett and .Ansel lUuscom in 1827 
until the building was burned in the fire "f 185.5. 
successivelv occupied bv Marshall & loreman, D. W . 
Foreman & Co., Sackett & Bebee and Jonalh;in 
Sackett. The site of the building was purchased b\ 
Cowing & Co.. who built upon it a six-stor\ build- 
ing in 1861. . . 
Judge Sackett built on tlie site afterwards occupied 
bv the knitting mills, a cotton factory in i8_io which 
Hezekiah Kelly carried on until 1S34. It was after- 
wards occupied by Henry P. Wistc.tl ^ L o. In, ;i 

sash factorv. 

cooricuiNC. 

was a large industrv in Seneca Falls before tin- 
packet service on the canal was discontinued. Hun- 
dreds of barrels were made weekly and shipped by 
canal as thev were ordered by the salt men at Salina 
who in those da\s drew upon the entire state witlim 
a radius of a hundred miles for salt barrels. I he 
earliest of coopers here were Benjamin Bates, Win. 
Penover, Eli Arnold, 1. Disbrow, John Crowell Wni. 
Beaver James Proudfoot and Asa B. Southwell. 
The two last named got the cream ..f the business 
from 1835 to 1835. 

BO.VT ULMI.DING 

With the completion of the Seneca canal and 
locks in this village in 1815 came the boat building 
industrv. The drv dock for launching and repairing 
boats was built in 18^6 by Isaac Smith cS: Son Asa 
Starkweather in 1838 leased the dry dock which he 
.mitrolled in connection with a boat yard until his 
death in 1842. Then Thomas H. Kerr carried on 
the business until 1850, when it was conducted suc- 
cessivelv bv Ransom "Minor and Joshua Martm until 
i8s6. Boat building was then practically discon- 
tinued; and the yard and dock were converted into a 
coal yard by J. B. Johnson and E. I'. Ihomas. 

Ge'orge McCIarv and Mr. Halliday m 1830 erected 
a machme shop on the north bank of the river near 
Ovid street bridge (later the site ,.f Durnins grocery). 
Henrv Sevmour bought out Halliday, and McClary 
& Seymour manufactured plows and threshing 
machines there until the business was swept away 
bv the flood of June, 1836. McClarv in 1837 with 
.'\bram Payne erected the stcme machine shop and 
furnace on" the upper level. . 

John Sheather built the "City Mills in 1831. 

The .Arnett stone mill was built in 1830. 

WHEN CLOCKS WERE M.VDE HERE 

Marshall & Adams in 1832 erected a building for 
the manufacture of clocks on the site afterwards 
occupied by Gleason & Bailey. They carried .m the 
industrv selling the clocks through agents traveling 
over the country untd the death of Marshall— sup- 
posed to be suicide — in 1837. 



•GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR KjK SF.KF.CA I'AI.I.S. 



.lolin S. and Jamei day in 1837 started the nil mill 
111 the Imilding in uhiih Winchester E. Powell after- 
wards f.ir liftv \tais inaiuifac-tiired sash and blinds. 

Ilniare C. and William C. Silsby and William 
\Mieelcr in i^]h erected the building near the Inwri 
lindge where thev were associated in the iiiamiracture 
iif a\es and mill pecks for six years. Horace C. who 
then went iiun mercantile pursuits, afterwards 
engaged more extensively in manufacturing, as will 
be seen later on. 

I'IRST HAM) FIRE E.N'GINE 

riioinas I. Payne, understood to be the liisl liiiilder 
of IHunps in Seneca Falls, began that industry willi 
Xoah Caldwell in 1X39 in the building afterwards 
known as ''the cultivator shop." They got into 
legal dillicnlties over the patents, and were put to 
much trouble and unusual expense to market their 
goods and in consequence discontinued the business. 
In the same building, however, John P. Cowing 
having severed a previous partnership with Henry 
Srvmour, engaged with Henry W. Seymour in 1S47 
in the manufacture of pumps. It was here also th.it 
Cowing (& Co., the liiiii then including John .\. 
U'umsev who entered m it<4L), manufactured the first 
li.ind lire engine in the village. Mr. Cowing's earlier 
riitcrprise is described farther along. 

PUMP IXDCSTRY ESI ABI,1SHED 

.\bel Downs in 1S40 started the pump industry 
and placed it on a hrm footing, and to him is largely 
due the credit for establishing that industry in this 
\illage. He used the wing to the "old cotton fac- 
toi V, ' afterwards called "the plaster mill, ' erecting a 
small furnace over the river, and employing live 
men. ,lohn W. Wheeler was foreman of tfie wood 
department and John Curtis the furnace. At the end 
iif two vears he went into mercantile business being 
succeeded bv Wheeler & Kelly. 

THE FIRST IRON Pf.MP 

Mr. Downs, in 1844 in co-partnership with John 
\\'. Whealer and Smith Briggs (Wheeler, Briggs & 
Co.), [lurchased "the old stone shop," corner of Ovid 
and tireen streets (built by Jeremiah Bennett & Co. 
in 1833 and used by him for manufacturing carriages 
until 1840), and resumed the manufacture of pumps, 
using a steam engine, the hrst one employed by 
manufacturers in Seneca Falls for driving the 
machinery. Here in 1843 Mr. Downs made the first 
iron pump, whioh was perfected by Mr. Wheeler. 
Briggs about this time must have dropped out of the 
firm for it was then known as Wheeler & Downs, 
which was next (about the same time) changed to 
Downs, Mynderse & Co., Wheeler retiring and H. C. 
Silsby and Edward Mynderse coming in. In 1846, 
previous to the last mentioned change in the firm, 
Washburn Race introduced his patent stove regulator 
and became a partner with Wheeler and Downs in 
its manufacture — Wheeler, Downs & Race making 
stove regulators and Wheeler & Downs pumps, in 
the same building. Then came Silsby & Mynderse, 
as already mentioned, taking Wheeler's and Downs' 
interests in stove regulators and Wheeler's and Race's 
interests in pumps, Wheeler retiring from both con- 
cerns. Both firms continued in the same building 
until the stove regulator works later went elsewhere, 
as will appear farther along. Seabury S. Gould 
purchased the interest of Mynderse in the pump 
works early in 1832 and in the fall of the same year 
that of Silsby, in the interim the firm being Downs, 
Silsby & Gould and finally Downs & Co. 

Such in brief is the history of the pump industry 
in this village, in its infancy. Its greater develop- 
ment — which is an interesting story continued from 
this point in the history of Goulds Manufacturing 
Co., that is told elsewhere — had now begun. Sea- 
bury S. Gould had come in to successfully inaugurate 
an era of remarkable expansion on top of an already 



phenominal growth which had been launched "y 
.Abel Downs. Beginning in 1840 with the employ- 
ment of (i\e men and the consumption of a ton or 
two of mm a wii'k, it had in a few \ears worked uji 
to till- riiij}|o\nirnt of fio or 70 men ami the consump- 
tion of (our tons o( iron d;iily. Downs <'i: Co. 
engaged with Henry P. Westcott in the sash and 
blind business in 1853. In 1858 Westcott retired. 
The firm then began the manufacture of patent 
zinc wash boards, and during the war of i8fii-'3 
filled government contracts for knit goods whiih 
were made here. Mr. Downs subsequeiitU' iiioxed to 
New York City and died there. 

The storv of the Seneca woolen mill which was 
built in 1844, is told in another article in this work. 

riRST ROTARY STEAM l-IKE EM.INE 

Horace C. Silsby, Washburn Race and Birdsall 
HoUv, in 1831, erected the brick factory on the island 
and resumed the manufacture of stove regulators, also 
making rotarv pumps. In this factory .Mr. Holly, in 
1833, supervised the manufacture of the lirst rotary 
steam fire engine. The same year Mynderse pur- 
chased Races's interest in the factory and John Shoe- 
maker bought Holly's interest and the firm became 
Silsby, Mvnderse & Co. 

John P. Cowing and Henry Seymour in 1840, occu- 
pying the old .Marshal & .Adams building, began the 
manufacture of pumps. Mr. Seymour afterwards 
erected a building on what is now the site of Rum- 
sey & Co.'s shops, into which Cowing & Seymour 
moved their plant in 1843. The firm was dissolved 
in 1847, Mr. Seymour continuing the business three 
years alone. 

Henry and Elisha Seymour in i83i-'6 manufactured 
trusses and supporters. John P. Cowing in the mean- 
time had formed a partnership with Henry W. 
Seymour, as already described. 

John A. Rumsey, .Moses Rumsey and Warren J. 
Chatham entered into partnership Jan. 1864, and 
erected new works for the manufacture of pumps and 
fire apparatus — engines, hose carts, etc. These 
works stand today and are being run on a large scale 
bv Rumsev & Co. 

E. P. Gleason in 1876 purchased the knitting mill 
property and orgrnized the Gleas<m knitting and 
manufacturing Co. This was afterwards the Cowing 
& Gleason Manufacturing Co.; then the Gleason & 
Bailev Manufacturing Co., manufacturing fire appa- 
tus and pumps. 

Cayuga Bridge; a Political Barometer — [By 
Diednch WillevsJ— Old Cayuga bridge, crossing the 
outlet of Cayuga lake, in its palmy days was a well 
recognized landmark and in political circles long 
assumed the distinction of being the political mile 
post — a distinguishing line at which "the verdict of 
the people" at the elections w'as emphatically spoken. 
As was the case for years afterwards with Harlem 
bridge — a barometer of elections — so in the pioneer 
days of Central and Western New York Cayuga 
bridge figured. 

The old eighth senate district with the greater part 
of the seventh senate district, as the same existed for 
twenty-five years prior to 1847, comprised that part 
of the state known as \\'estern New York and 
embraced substantially the same territory as is now- 
included m the seventh and eighth judicial districts. 
This part of t)ie state gave a political majority 
usually adverse to the rest of the state. 

.A.fter any general elections if the stages-— usually a 
couple of days or so afterwards — brought in news of 
an extra large majority west of Cayuga bridge, it 
was likely to determine the result in favor of the 
political party in the majority in Western New York. 

The name Cavuga bridge was long a real terror to 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOrVEXIR OF SFA'ECA FALLS. 




Prudrn. Photo. 

KEY. JAMES O'CUNNOR. 

evil doers. The remark was often heard; "If that 
young man does not turn over a new leaf he will bo 
taken across Cayuga bridge toll free," referring to 
transportation of prisoners to Auburn prison from 
the west. 

St. Patrick's Catholic Church — The first mass 
in Seneca Falls was celebrated bv Rev. Francis 
O'Donohoe, then located at .'\uburn, who had been 
invited to visit this and other neighboring places in 
the county, Oct. 4, 1835. The sacrifice was being 
offered in the house of Henry Graham on Center 
street, when the floor af the room which was small 
and was crowded with attendants, gave way and 
precipitated all into the cellar. Nobody was badlv 
hurt. .As soon as an opening could be made in the 
cellar window Father O'Donohoe, who still clung to 
the chalice, led the way out and across the street 
where in James Hurley's house he finished the mass. 
\\ a meeting the same afternoon an organization 
was perfected with Henry Graham, John .McGurn 
and Michael Flynn trustees, and James Hurley clerk. 
.A subscription of 8129 was immediatelv raised, 
which was subsequently increased to $291.45 when 
a small building on Swaby street was purchased. 
During the ensuing winter services were held 
regularly, occasionally in the absence of Father 
O'Donohoe the congregation saying prayers and 
teaching the children the catechism. In .\pril, .1836, 
the church was dedicated as St. Jerome. 

Father O'Donohoe, whose mission extended 
throughout Western New York, was succeeded bv 
Father Grace, who was followed by Father Bradley, 
during whose ministration, in 1841, the church was 
enlarged. In 1845 Rev. Thomas O'Flahertv suc- 
ceeded him. The foundation of the new church, 
40x60 feet — the front part of the present edifice — 
was laid by Father O'Flahertv, the structure being 
completed by Rev. \Vm. Carroll his successor who 
came in 185 1. Judge Sackett contributed the site of 
the church 

In February, 1848, Rt. Rev. John Timon, bishop 
of Buffalo, assisted by Fathers O'Flaherty and 
Sheridan gave a retreat to the people, last ng three 
days. Father Carroll was the first priest to reside in 
the parish. Feather Welsh who came in 1834 
remained one year and was succeeded by F'ather 
Brady who was a young man and who gave renewed 
vigor to the new church. He started a debating 



society, organized a sodality of young ladies and 
founded a St. Vincent de Paul society which afforded 
much relief to the poor. He purchased the organ. 
He was an ardent temperance man. When the civil 
war broke out he went to the front as chaplain where 
his health gave way and his death soon followed. 
Rev. Charles McMuUen was pastor from June, 1859, 
to November, i860 and was succeeded by Rev. James 
McGlew who remained only five months. Rev. 

l-.dward McGowan, who followed him, remained 
until March, 1865, during which time he purchased 
tlip temetery and built an addition to the church 
\\ hich then took the name St. Patrick. Rev. Michael 
O'lirien remained a few months and Rev. Hugh 
.Mulholland a year. Rev. Martin Kavanaugh served 
from .August, 1S66, to .April, i.Sfig. Rev. L. .A. Lam- 
bert was in charge a few months f<>llf>wed bv l^e\ . 
Terrance Keenan, who died while here, -Aug. 16, 1870. 
Rev. Bernard McCool came in the following Novem- 
ber and remained until his death, February, 1879. 
Rev. George J. Osborne was here until March, 1886, 
and was succeeded by Rev. Wm. \. .McDonald who 
remained until July, 1890. Rev. A. M. O'Neil was in 
charge until February, 1891, when he was succeeded 
by Rev. James O'Connor the present pastor. The 
parish supports a parochial school in charge of the 
sisters of St. Joseph, which is of a high character. 

Father O'Connor's assistant is Rev. M. Dwyer who 
came here from thf Catholic seminarv at Rochester 
in May, 1898. 

Father O'Connor was born in Wheatland, Monroe 
county, N. Y., .April 8, 1N44. He was educated in 
the district schools and in Niagara university where 
he was graduated in 1867. The same year he was 
ordained priest and went to St. Mary's at Rochester 
as assistant. He was pastor at Weedsport one year, 
at Ovid over six years and at St. Bridget's church, 
Rochester, fifteen vears, coming to Seneca Falls from 
that parish. 

Newspapers of Seneca Falls. — The first was 
"The Seneca Falls Journal," established August, 
1829, by O. B. Clark and in 1831 transferred to 
Wilson N. Brown. In 1832 "The Journal" and "The 
Seneca Farmer" of Waterloo were consolidated and 
the name changed to "The Seneca Farmer and 
Seneca Falls .Advertiser," thereafter published at 
Seneca F'alls by William Child until 1835, at which 
time "The Seneca Falls Register " was started by J. 




Pruden, Photo, 



KEV. M. nWYEIi. 



■GRIPS" HISTCIRICAI. SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



K. Urnwn and published two years. The "Seneca 
Farmer, above referred to was started hv Wdli.itn 
Chdd at Waterloo in 1S23. 

■■Tlip Seneca Coiintv Courier" was estalili^lu-d in 
iSjti and continued a prosperous slieet under llie 
same name until absorbed in .\ugust. 11)02, hv the 
Seneca Falls Journal." the history of both nf which 
appear in another article. 

In 1839 an "association of gentlemen" established 
"The Seneca Falls Democrat." of which .losiah T. 
Miller was the editor. Dennis Card was the fore- 
man and Stephen S. N'iele, I'^benezer Ingalls and .Tohn 
S. Bigelow were "the conuiiittee. " It suspended in 
1S30. 

!■ rom 1840 to i84() .\nsel Bascom conducted "The 
Memorial," a legal home journal which was then 
disccmtinued. 

Mrs. .\melia .lenks Bloomer established "The 
l.ilv, " the hrst woman's journal in the United States. 
.Ian. I. 1847, which was removed to Mt. \'ernon. O.. 
in i,Si4. 

\. j. Millikin in 1848 established the "I'ree S.iil 
Union." 

The Seneca Falls Reveille was established .Ian. 7. 
i8ji, bv Wilcoxen, Sherman & Baker. Its history 
appears elsewhere. 

"The Millenial Harbinger" was moved from Roch- 
ester ti> Seneca F'alls about 1S60 and published here 
for a time hv Thomas G. Newman. 

The "Seneca Falls Journal" was established in 
i8X:j In- a stock cimipany. 

Early Business.— [By Mrs. L. R. SanfordJ — The 
hrst -.tiire nl aiiv kind opened in Seneca Falls was in 
1793 when Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse built a double 
log house in the ravine just below the present residence 
of H. C. Silsby. One half was used as a store and 
the other half as a residence. Simon Chapman, a 
clerk for Col. Mynderse, afterwards became his suc- 
cessor in a building on the river side of Fall street, 
somewhere near the present site of the Episcopal 
church, as shown on the map of Seneca Falls made 
in 181 7. This was the first store above the red mill. 
In 182S Simon Chapman had 300 names on his 
ledger. He removed to Michigan in 1835 where he 
died. 

The second store was founded by .Abijah Mann in 
1814, and in that year he built Mechanics hall, which 
stood on the lot now occupied by the business places 
of W. B. Lathrop, Ferd. Isenman. Mr. \'anderhoof 
and George Norton. 

The third store was kept by Henry Kellogg in the 
vicinity of the hall. Silas Dean Mumford had a 
store where the Seneca House now stands. He was 
very rich for those davs and an influential man. He 
lived across the street'and later built the house where 
Mrs. Ow^en Smvthe lives. John Isaacs succeeded 
Kellogg. Isaacs afterwards occupied the old brick 
buildin'g below the Chamberlain block, his family 
living in the rear of the store. 

In 1823 or 1824 -\bram and Samuel Payne opened 
a store in or near Mechanics hall. They built the 
brick house still standing on Fall street next to the 
rooms of the Silsbv hose company, and moved into it 
as soon as it was finished with their stock of goods. 
Later thev built the Clinton .Mills. It is said that 
the father of these brothers came here in an early 
dav, taking up a soldier's right of 640 acres, which 
extended nearly to "The Kingdom." They were 
interested in manvearlv industries. One son, Henry, 
went to Cleveland and afterward became United 
States senator, his daughter marrying William C. 
Whitnev, secretary (if the navy under President 
Clevela'nd. His son, Oliver H. Pa\Tie, was well 



known as a millionaire with interests in the Standard 
()il CiMiip.inv. .Xii'ither son, Ji seph I'ayne li\ed in 
Senna Falls many years. 

.hphii S. Gay was one of our early, business men, 
hcirn in Sharon, Conn., in 180^. lie <ame to this 
place between 1820 ,.nd 1825. He w'as interested in 
tile hardware business, in milling and had for many 
vears one of the many dry goods stores here. It 
occupied the site of Flanagan's bakery. 

Gen. Senter M. Giddingscanie to Seneca l.ills with 
his father in 1821. He built the store now occupied 
bv Thomas B. Sharp tS: Son and opened a grocer\- 
and general store. He lived in the rear of the build- 
ing, the entrance for the family being on Ovid street 
as it is now. Gen. Giddings built the colonial house 
on the 'I'errace which was afterwards owned by .lohn 
Shoemaker and then bought and torn down by John 
.\. Rumsey. 

While president of the village. Gen. Giddings had 
Fall street lowered six fec-t, which created great 
excitement with the property nwners, as the cellars 
became the lirst lloor of their liuildings and neces- 
sitated digging down into the hank to lay the 




Piiidcu, Pliuto. 

ST. PATKICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

foundation for new cellars. The dirt taken from the 
bank was deposited in the ravine back of Mr. 
Hoskins store where the Masonic Temple now stands. 
Gen. Giddings received his title from his connection- 
with the State .■\rtillery. He had on his staff .Major 
Dow-ns, Mr. Charles Mynderse, Mr. H. C. .Silsby and 
Mr. Charles Thompson. Their duty was to inspect 
the companies at .-Vuburn. Geneva, Naples and other 
places. Thev always traveled in carriages and their 
baggage w-as taken in a wagon driven by Sol Butler. 
Erastus Partridge, who lived here so. many years 
estabLshed a general store in Mechanics Hall in 
.April, 1824, under the management of a .Mr. Shaw, 
w-ho in 1826 became his partner. The store was 
eighteen feet square and the rent was $4.00 a month. 
In the spring of 1837 Mr. William B. Lathrop came 
here to enter this store remaining five years, when he 
went to Montezuma and conducted a store for Mr. 
Partridge a number of years finally returning and 
buving the establishment. Mr. Partridge established 



■■CRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SF.NECA FALLS. 



a bank in the corner of his store in 1848. Up to that 
time all banking was done in Waterloo or Geneva. 
In 1S58 he built the present bank and moved into it. 
His banking business e.vpanded and finding his store 
inadequate Mr. Partridge bought ol Ebenezer Ingalls 
lot Xo. iiio and iTi 1S58 built the present structure 
and moved into it. Lot Xo. ibo was deeded to Mr. 
Ingalls March i, 1S24 by James C. Robinson and 
wile who also sold him lot Xo. ifn now owned by 
Mrs. Sarah Beck. Mr. Partridge bought of Xoah 
and Xanrv Morris, Feb. 17, 183(1. lot No. ijg, the 
propertv now occupied by the McKeon hardware 
store. .\s carlv as 1857 Mr. Partridge built his home 
on Cavuga street where he lived until his death. It 
is owned bv .Mrs. Caroline Cook and is a line speci- 
men of early architecture. 

The merchant whose memory is greenest owing to 
the many years he lived with us, is Mr. Charles L. 
Hoskins, who came here in 1828 from Bearytownand 
occupied a little frame store on the present site of 
the Hoskins block. T'he store like all of that day 



standing. . In the corner store Storrs it Pardee 
opened a very attractive and popular dry goods 
store. Storrs did not remain very hmg. Pardee 
carried on the business for some years. He finally 
became greativ interested in Sunday school work and 
was known all over the state. 

Dr. Brown built the brick store ^ast of the .Monroe 
grocery. Xo. ^ of his block was occupied in 1824 by 
George E. Freeman iS; Co. who sent out large posters 
announcing their advent with a large stock of dry 
goods, crockerv, glass ware, drugs, liquors, boots and 
shoes, which th"\' state was the largest stock in 
western Xew York. The printing of the bill was 
done bv C). B. Clark and is embellished by the god- 
dess of fortune emptying her cornucopia of specie 
into the coffers of the comp;mv. 

William Pollard came here when a child with lli^ 
father's family in 1814 and in early life engaged in 
the grocery business in Mechanics hall and was there 
when that U.nd mark was burned in 1834. 

In 1821 ledediah Coleman lived at the lake, lie 




1,.\U1ES' CATHOLIL' UENEN'UI.ENT A!>S(l('IA'i'10N. 



was a primitive department store. There was then 
no stores between Mr. Hoskins and the block after- 
ward owned by Sidney Monroe. His house was at 
the rear of his store some distance from the street 
facing Cayuga street. His barn was down in the 
ravine. There was a lawn around the house and 
store. This lawn was occasionally the resting place 
for a day of Indians who lived down the river and 
they always attracted the idlers of the town. 

On his ledger of 1828. we find the familiar names 
Halsey. Woodworth, Long, Ralph Summers. Samuel 
Stowell. Gay. Van Cleef, Penoyar, Larzelere, Bur- 
roughs, Metcalf, Sackett, Seekels, Edwards, Sander- 
son, Tyler, Babcock, Boardman, Crane, Chamber- 
lain, Bockoven, Beech, Usher, Pollard. Not a great 
deal of money was in circulation. Purchases in the 
majority of cases were paid for in trade. 

.\t the corner of Ovid and Fall streets, where 
st.'uids one of our Raines hotels, was a blacksmith 
shop: this was superseded by the brick block now 



was a saddler and harness maker. In 1^2(1 his c. im- 
petence was sufficient to enable him to come ti' 
Seneca F'alls and build the lirst brick building on the 
north side of the river. In the front of the house he 
had his work and sh'uv rooms; in the back part and 
over it his family lived. The house was yellow 
brick and stood on the site of the present store of 
J. H. and CI. B. Crowell. 

The first jeweler in town was John P. Fairchilds 
in 1828. He was succeeded by William Garret and 
then W. E. Williams. 

The first drug store is credited to a Dr. Deming in 
1828 but in that same year Dr. Brown built a brick 
block mentioned and had a drug store. 

The first hardware store was kept by James tiay 
and a Mr. Odgen. in the store now occupied by 
McKeon's hardware business. James Gay lived in 
the house now occupied by the Sisters next to the 
Catholic school. When Mr. Hoskins built hissecond 
store he was joined by Charles and I'klward Mynderse 



■GRIPS" HISTflRICAL SCIUVEXIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



59 




Old Photos. .)OHN PHILO LDWIXG. 
PHILO COWING. MARSHAL COWING. 

GEORGE COWING. 

will) with liiiti liuill the block which preceded the 
jjie'.ent structure. Charles M\nderse opened in one 
of the stores the hardware trade, but soon sold out 
to SiKbv iK: Downs, then it became Silsby & Snyder, 
till II Silsby iS; Burt, then Langworthy, Daniels & 
Hurt, then Langworthy i*t Burt, then William Lang- 
worthy and now Story & Strong. 

At one time Center street crossed Canal street 
to the river. Whiting Race, so far as 1 can learn, 
had the first lumber yard in town, which occupied 
the east side of Center street between. Canal street 
.•end the river on land now owned by the woolen 
mills company. 

In an early day Canal street was used for business 
purposes. It w'as there that Sackett & Van Rensselaer 
had a general store, standing on lot No. 9. This lot, 
containing f>oo acres, was originally a revolution- 
arv soldier's grant by the state to .\bram ^'an 
.\mburgh. 

John P. Con^ingp was born in Seneca, Ontario 
Co., leh. ji., 1807, the youngest of twenty-one 
children. He was a lineal descendant of Thomas 
Rogers who was a passenger on the good ship 
'•Mayflower:" also of Henry Sampson, w-ho came 
with his "cossens," the Tilleys on the same ship. 
His father James Cowing, born in 1740, was in the 
revolutionary war, enlisted 
from old Plymouth. He 
moved to Seneca, Ontario Co., 
in 1800, and ran a line of 
packets from Albany t" 
Buffalo from 1833 to 1838 
John P. Cowing married 
Elizabeth Malay of Ontarii' 
Co., Jan. I, 1833, and they 
had two sons and four daugh- 
ters. Mr. Cowing came to 
Seneca Falls in 1840 and 
bought out Paine & Caldwell, 
manufacturers of w' o o d e n 
pumps. Soon after, Henry 
Se)Tnour became associated 
with Mr. Cowing and in 



1847 was succeeded by Henry W. Seymour. In 1849 
I'ilni .\ Rumsey was added to the firm. In i8jq 
1 knry W. Seymour retired and John P. Cowing took 
into the partnership his sons, Philo and George. In 

1864 John .\. Kumsey retired. Father and sons 
rarried on the business until 1875 when, through no 
tault of .Mr. Cowing who managed the business, 
linancial reverses swept away the greater part of his 
property forcing him to retire from active business. 

I'he Cowing shops were several times burned and 
were again and again rebuilt. The lirst lire was in 

\pril, 1844, and the ne.Kt in December billowing. 
In January, 1851, their furnace was again burned. 

1 hey also suffeied in the great fire of 1853. In 1858 
Messrs. Cowing purchased the site of the old sash 
lactory and ereited a building in which thov manu- 
factured lire engines. The large six story i)uilding 
on the paper mill site was erected in 18(11 by John P. 
Cowing. Rarely an enterprise ever met with so 
many difliculties and reveises as that of Cowing dt 
Co. But Mr. Cowing with an indomitable will, 
lione.stv of purpose and e.vceptional energy recovered 
from each blow and each time builded on a greater 
-cale. It was said to his credit that he took no 
advantage of his creditors to save himself from 
financial ruin. He died May 13, 1879. Two daugh- 
ters living in Seneca Falls survive him. .Miss Janet 
and Miss Elizabeth Cowing. 

Luke Svretland's captivity among the Seneca 
Indians, .1 m 1 y r.ire and remarkable e.xperience, 
possesses all of a local interest in Seneca county since 
he was most of the time kept at Kendaia (.Apple- 
town | ne.ir llie east shore of Seneca lake. Not that 
In- was confined. On the contrary. He had utmost 
liberty. He went off through the woods long dist- 
ances alone. Many of his trips were to Skoiyase 
[Waterloo] to procure fish and to the salt springs at 
Cayuga outlet for salt. Yet he was as helpless to 
effect his escape as though placed behind bars. Hun- 
dreds of miles of forest lav between him and his white 
friends. No one e,\cept the hardiest could venture 
without supplies to traverse these broad, difficult 
forests and hills. Swetland, midst fields and orchards 
of ripening grain and fruit, was kept on meager sus- 
tenance until his weakness was the effective barrier 
to his escape. He was captured in August, 1778, and 
released in September, 1779, by Gen. Sullivan. 

Captured in Pennsvhania he was put through con- 
siderable hardships until he reached .\ppletown and 
was adopted by an old Indian woman as her grand- 
son. He soon became a favorite with the village. 
Finally he was taken to the west of Seneca lake 
where he twice started alone to make his W"ay to the 
settlements, once on horseback, but both times failed 
for lack of strength and returned to his Indian grand- 
mother where he was recei\'ed w-ith roval w-elcome. 




old Print. 



THE OLD COWING PCMP FACTORY. 



do 



•GF^IPS' HISTORICAL SOI'VENTR OF SF.XECA FALLS. 




Borrowed Cut. H. V. SILSHV. 

Survivor of the Earliest of Seueca Falls Manulaeturers. 

Horace C. Silsby came to Seneca Falls in the 
spring of 1836 and engaged in the manufacture of 
axes, mill pecks and edge tools in company with his 
brother William C. Silsby and his brother-in-law 
William Wheeler. They erected a building near the 
lower bridge for the main works, grinding and finish- 
ing in an old fulling mill on the present 
site of Littlejohn's marble works. H. C. Silsby dis- 
posed of his interest in this plant in 1842 and pur- 
chased the dry goods store of Senter .M. Giddings. 
Two or three years later he bought Charles 1). 
Mynderse's interest in the hardware business which 
he owned several years. Mr. Silsby was also a 
partner in the firm of Silsby, Mynderse & Co. manu- 
facturers of stove regulators; in the fiim Downs, 
Mynderse & Co. manufacturers of pumps; also with 
Washburn Race and Birdsall Holly in the manufac- 
ture of stove regulators, rotary pumps and, later, 
rotary steam fire engines. 

Henry Sto^rell, editor and proprietor of the 
Seneca I'alls l\eveille, who has published and edited 
a newspaper longer than any other man in Seneca 
county, has to his credit a continuous service in the 
publication and editorship of the [Reveille of over 
forty-five years. Mr. Stowell took that paper when 
it was four years old and he has made it what it is 
today, a clean, spirited, influential familv journal 
with a circulation going into every neighborhood in 
the county and following hundreds of people all 
over the country who are interested in the village. 
The Reveille has obtained that commanding influence 
in home affairs which has ever been the purpose of 
Mr. Stowell to give it, through the pride he has taken 
in making the journal a reliable, comprehensive and 
first of all local newspaper; always positive and con- 
servative in his editorial utter;mces; firm in a 
conviction and active in support of the best interests 
of town and county. 

From the beginning his idea has been to dig out 
and preserve all that is of value relating to the 
history of the community and during the lirst vear 
of his connection with the paper he ran a series of 
articles on local historical subjects which from time 
to time in later years he h.is continued. This has 
taken a great deal of his time, always devoting his 
personal efforts to making this work comprehensive 
and accurate. It may be fairly stated that the 
material he has gleaned has rescued from ohiivicn 



much that is important and on the whole has fur- 
nished the basis of about all of local historv that has 
hren written and printed. .Vt the centennial celebra- 
tion of the settlement at Seneca Falls, -Mr. Stowell 
was the historian. 

.\ history of Seneca Falls could not be written 
without reference to Henry Stowell whose personal 
efforts have most generally been enlisted in public 
affairs. One purpose has ever actuated him in a 
connection of over a third of a century with the 
f'oard of Education, and that is to give Seneca Falls 
the best public school system that can be obtained. 
With this end in view he has worked earlv and late, 
raising his voice and wielding his pen for modern 
and iiblv conducted schools. 

Henry St(^well, the son of Samuel and .\nna Gougli 
Stowell who came to Seneca Falls and located in tln' 
latter part of the "twenties," three-quarters of ,1 
century ago, was born in Bradford Co., Pa., in 18^4, 
during the short period of residence which his parents 
took up there. Hut they returned verv soon after to 
Seneca Falls and from his earliest childhood Henry 
Stowell has resided in this village. His father came 
here from Brainbridge, Chenango Co., X. Y., as fore- 
man on the construction of the canal locks. He was 
one of the early public school teachers of the plai'e. 
In later years he went into the lumbering business in 
Pennsylvania where he died. 

Henry Stowell attended the district school in 
Seneca Falls and, at an early age. worked as a 
machinist for Downs & Co., and later for Silsby. 
Mynderse & Co. When he was ij years old he began 
contributing articles on current topics to the local 
papers. 

On Jan 7. 1855. Wilcoxen. Sherman & Baker 



owmg 
It was 



started the Seneca I^'alls Reveille and the fi 
year the Inst named bought out his partners, 
about this time that "knownothingism" was ram- 
pant, and the paper which bore the name of .Ameri- 
can Reveille was the organ of that party. On Jan. i, 
185Q, having bought the paper from Judge Wilcoxen, 
Henry Stowell and .\. P. Holly took possession, as 
partners, the former taking the editorial chair. The 
name was then changed to the Seneca Falls Reveille, 
the paper was enlarged from seven to eight columns, 
the editorial and local pages were introduced as the 
most important features of the publication and its 
political policy, ever since faithfully maintained, was 
that of a firm and imcompromising democratic paper. 




Pi'uden. Photo. 

HENRY STOWELL. 
Editor and Proprietor Seneca Falls Reveille 



••GR1I>S- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA EALLS. 



6i 




Pruden. Pli'ito. 

OFFICERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

H'>iacf Ruinsev. Chief. 

A. r. Sackett. Secmni Assistant Cliief. 

M. E. Keajraii. First Assislant Chief. 

• ilwavs suppiirting the local, state and national 
tickets nf that partv without Hinching. In this 
respect Mr. Stowell and llie Reveille have obtained 
an accorded position in the councils of the party and 
among the partv newspapers of the state. He has 
frequentiv represented his party in state and national, 
as well as local, conventions and was a delegate at 
the convention in Baltimore in 1872 which nomi- 
nated Horace Oreelev for president. He was a 
member of the Democratic State committee from his 
cimgressional district for two years. Mr. Stowell is 
equally well known to the editorial f ternity, having 
been a member of the New York State Press .Associ- 
ation since 1859 and president of that liody in 1841, 
frequently representing the asso- 
ciation at National editorial 
conventions. President Cleve- 
land during his first term ap- 
pointed Mr. Stowell postmaster 
at Seneca l^'alls, but at his own 
request the president witlidrew 
the nomination from the senate, 
Mr. Stowell in the meantime, 
.-ibout ten months, serving in the 
position. During .Mr. Cleveland's 
second term Mr. Stowell received 
the appointment of postmaster 
for the second time, Dec. 19, 
1893, and was conrirmed, holding 
the office during the full term of 
four years. 

In 1893 liovernor Flower ap- 
pointed him as one of three com- 
missioners to represent the 
Seventh judicial district at the 
World's Exposition in Chicago. 

He has ser\ed as a member of 
the village board of trustees and 
in 1874 was elected president of 
the village serving as such two 
years. Since 186S he has served 
continuously on the board of 
education, of which he was i')resi- 
<lent four terms, and during that 
time two new schools and the 
academv have been construcletl. 

Mr. Stowell is a member of the 
Masonic lodge with which he has 
been connected since he was M 
vears old. .Mrs. Stowell was Susan 
"H. Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Stowell 
have one daughter, Maud. 



The Fire Department of Seneca Falls consists 
• .f three steamers, a hook and ladder and a fire patrol 
company, besides the well organized force of fire 
lighters and apparatus in the shops. Each company 
IS manned bv paid men. The executive control of 
the department is lodged with three commissioners, 
now Clarence Williams, M. E. Hanlin and John 
l.cller. The work of the department is directeil by 
three competent men. Horace Rumsey the chief and 
his two assistants. 

Engine Co. No. 2.- ".\ i-ompany to lire engine 
No. j' wtis organized by the board of village trus- 
ti es on .Uilv 12, 1837, to be knowm as Engine Co. No. 
2. tmd the following were named by resolution: 
William Arnett foreman, Oliver S. Latham first and 
Nathan S. Congdon second assistants foremen, Wil- 
litini E. Starr secretary and Charles L. Hoskins trea- 
surer: including as first list of members James B. G. 
Downs, John W. Dickerson, William R. Goetchins, 
John r. .-Vndrus, William .A. Sacket, Henry Hayden 
and Edwin M. Conklin. The names added to the 
roll during the ensuing three months, July and 
September, 1837, were O. R. Watson, Joshuti Martin, 
George Stetcher, 1. A. McBaine, Jacob Smith, Gre- 
gory J. Crrant, Silas Hewitt, \\'<n. Brett, .Abel Downs. 
I-". H. Marshall, Ge^irge B. Foster, John Curtis, Henry 
W, Sevmour, Thomas J.Miller, Walstein Failing and 
Edmund W. .\dams. 

George H. McClarv at a subsequent meeting in 
July, 1837, was appointed chief engineer and Edward 
S. f.atham and George B. Daniels, first and second 
assist.int-.. 

Rescue Company No. 3 was organized on July 
10, 1842, at a meeting where the following were 
elected officers: Foreman, William .Arnett; First 




Old Pictures. , , , 

R?;SCITE CO., No. 3 (top)— John H. O'Brien, foreman, is on the sti-p; .loUn 

Lacey. assistant, is behind him. Arthur McGuire, at left of foreman; Wm. 

McGraw at left of McGuire. Richard .Magill in t lie rear on the right. John 

McGuiie next to Mafrill; George Kieu next to John McGuire: Wm. liarton. 

driver 

STEAMER CO. No. :i— John Urquhart, engineer: Daniel Stahlnecker. 

stoker; Charles Mathews, driver. 



62 



•GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Assistant Foreman, Walstein Failing: Second 
Assistant Foreman, Oorge R. Chase; Secretary, \\ _ 
Langworthy; Treasurer, A. !'2. Chamberlain. The 
uniform then adopted and worn for some time con- 
sisted of a black hat bearing a brass plnte with 
"Rescue" upon the plate, a red flannel shirt with 
velvet facings and dark blue pilot cloth pantaloons 
trimmed witli India rubber cloth. The records show 
the following names of members, daies of enlistment 
and in some cases what became of them. 

Enlisted lulv, 25, 1842— W. Arnett, \V. P.. Maynarii 
(died March SJ i84f)), D. R. CSould, Thomas C'ass. 
George .■\. \'an Cleef, Bayard .Miller (died March 
1850), Stephen Baker, Wm. I.angvvorthv 



April 12 



1850), R. G. Xoyes, I'". \' 



(discharged 
Chamberlain, .\. 



I.. Burritt (dis. April, 18431, C. Kenyon (expelled 
Sept. 4, 1845I. C. B. Kuler, .lohn l.each (dis. Sept. 4, 
1843), William Keith, Wm. Clark (exp. .lune, 1843), 
.\lfred Wood. W.ishlnirn Ixace. .I.imes Sanderson, .Ir., 



Coleman. .1. X. I'nderhill. Enlisted .luly, 1841 
John Millin (exp. October, 1843. 

Enlisted .\pril 4, 1844— Francis F. Carr, Edwin j. 
Tvler, Isaac Patchen. ICnlisted June 5, 1845— G.-ibriel 
Scott. Enlisted .lulv 7, 1845 — Peter .\. Dcy. 
luilisted Sept. s, 1845— lacob H. Cool. I'.nlisled 
|id\. 1S41. -S. 1). WoodhuU. 

Red Rover — ■■The Rumseyville Fire Department 
of the village of Seneca Falls," was the name of an 
organization, or (ire company, organized Oct. 2i. 
1874. The lirst officers ele'cted were; Foreman. 
William Whitney; First Assistant Foreman, Etl. 
Gould; Second .Assistant Foreman, M. I.. Nichols; 
Secretary, C. Morris; Treasurer, X. F. Mather. 

On I'eb. 5, 1873, the name was changed to Red 
Rover Fire Co. Xo. 2. 

On Xov. II, 1884, the name was again changed to 
Gleason I'ire Patrol Xo. 2. In the preceding .August 
the Cdeason Manufacturing Co. had paid the expenses 
of tlie compan\ to I'tica. Henrv Casey was fore- 




Pruden, Plioto. 

Joseph McKeon, fdremun; Hufili Gihimre, assistant 
Wallace Cushnian, Andrew McArdle, engineer; Daniel W 
Hoiben, Frank Henderson, Charles Mathows, driver. 



STEAMEK (1). XI). 1. 

foreman; Spencer Kovston, hoseman; Wm. Allnian. 
lialen, Patrick Kyan, Sioker: Patrick Lucktr, Frank 



(ieorge R. Chase, .l<:lin W. (."onklin, Isaac \'an Tassel, 
.lames Denison (dis. .Afiril, t^-i}], Fla\uis J. Mills 
(dis. January, 1S43, re-elected July d, 1843), 11. J. 
ICUiott, n. C. Bloomer, ,\. I'-. Chamberlain, Isaac H. 
.\rnett, John Jay Davis, Samuel i'ellows, Charles 
■■'ront, Edward Mynderse (dis.l, Walstein Failing 
(dis. September, 1842), W. Magay (dis. September, 
1842). ICnlisted .Vug. 13, 1842 — Joseph Osborn (dis. 
.•\pril, 1843). Enlisted Sept. 20, 1842 — Smith Briggs, 
Oliver S. Latham, A. Ouackenbush (dis. 1847), D. \'. 
Sacket (dis. 1847). Enlisted .Nov. 3, 1842 — .\. K. 
Townsend, Daniel Cole. Enlisted Jan., 1843 — M. J. 
Smith (dis. .\pril, 1843). ICnlisted February, i8.|3 — 
C. E. Wheeler, Barney Travis. 

Enlisted April, 1843 — Henrv Carpenter, C. C. 



man at the time of the change of name. The com- 
pany adopted bl;ick pants and red shirts in tlie 
Ijegiiming which were worn some time. The lirst 
members of the Rumsevville companv in 1874 were 
W. H. Whitnev, |. McBride, Jr., D. Havens, Jr., 
George Feek, Si. L. Xichols, X. V. .Mather, X. F. 
Schuyler, C. Morris, David Ward, J. G. .Morris, Wni. 
Frutig, Peter Barrett, James Barton, John Tro- 
bridge, Wm. Milford, Orion Hawes, Ci. Gregory. 
H. \'. Mathews, Robert Royston, Ed Gould, S. Tro- 
bridge, W. !■'. Crawford, J."0. Lewis, Wm. I'.aston. 
G. M. Timmerman, James Holmes, E. .\ddisrm, John 
J. Clark, Charles Talllinger, F. Troutman, Charles 
Barratt, Charles Graham, James Brocum, George 
Barrett, H. .Moshier, R. Place", G. Race, B. Green, P. 
Hilby, H. Hebner, C. .M. Feek, Wm. King, Foster 
.Mepingham, James Rudth-. 



'•GRIP'S' HISTORICAI. SOUVENIR 0¥ SENECA FALLS. 



63 




August, 1402, 

hduglit the 

the venerable 

interest of the 



lli.iiu\vi.'il Photo. 

OFFICERS OF THE ColKTEIi-JOUKXAL CO. 
W. .J. Pollard, Pre.sident. 
Hariv M C.leii, Vice-President. 

.Tames K. Eastman, Seeretary. 

The Courier-Journal represents the consolida- 
li..n ol iwc. of till- bi St III' Ineal newspapers in Seneca 
I uuntv which in its present form and management is 
the recognized leading Republican paper of this sec- 
tion of the state; a newspaper of ton_- .and character- 
combining the reputation of the long ago established 
Seneca Falls Courier with its hrm hold on the affec- 
tions of readers many of whom have had it in the 
family for nearly three-quarters of a century, with 
the vouthful, vigorous dash and enterprise of the 
more modern Seneca Falls Journal. The ccmsolida- 
tion of t'nese journals was effected rn 
when the .lournal Publishing Ci 
material, li.xtures and good will of 
Courier. It was plainly a step in the 
community as well as of the local Republican party 
which both papers had faithfully supported, and the 
result, showing a constant increase in its Inisiness 
and a growing power upon the community, has 
given evidence that the step was rightly taken. The 
Courier-Journal Publishing Co. is composed of \Vm. 
J. Pollard, president and editor, Harry M. (jlen, the 
present postmaster of the village, treasurer and James 
K. Eastman, vice president and secretary. The oHice 
is well equipped and has an excellent job printing 
plant. 

William J. Pollard was born in .Seneca Falls Jan. 
8, 1801, and was educated in the village school and 
Union College, being graduated from the latter in 
1882. The following year lie married .Mice Pi. 
Danii-ls of Seneca Falls. For a few years he was 
superintendent and foreman in the Rumsey Manu- 
facturing Co. and later connected with the .Xmerican 
(ilobe and School Supply Co. In 184^ h? and James 
K. Eastman bought out the Seneca Falls Journal, 
the former taking editorial njanagement of tfie paper 
in which position he has continued on d.iwn through 
the consolidation. Mr. Pollard is recognized as one 
of the active, zealous Republican workers in Seneca 
Falls. He was appointed assistant postmaster in 
iSqq serving the usual term in that position. He has 
hlled the ofiice of supervisor two terms and was for 
hve vears one of the board of managers of the state 
hospital at Willard. He is a member of the Masonic 
lodge and Maccabees. 

Harry M. (ilen is one of the active Republicans of 
the county whose services in behalf of his party have 
covered a considerable period of time. The recogni- 
tion of his activitv in the party came from the late 
President McKinley who in iXqq appointed him post- 
master at Seneca Falls, a position he has since hlled 
with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the 
community. Mr. Glen represented Seneca county in 
the assembly at Albany in i894-'j and in 1897, at a 
time when the county was regarded as democratic. 
He was assigned to good positions on prominent 



working committees, being' the chairman of the com- 
mittee on printing in the legislature of 1897. Mr 
Glen conies from an old New- York city family. His 
grandfather 1^. M. K. Glen also served in the state 
legislature, an assemblyman in i8f)9-'70. Mr. Glen 
,it one time lived at Medina, O., and for some years 
Msided at ( )shana, Canada, being associated in the 
hardware business with his uncle !■'. W. Glen who 
was a member of the Canadian parliament for hfteen 
Mars. Harrv Glen afterwards engaged in business 
in Rochester and later in Binghamton, locating in 
Seneca F'alls in the spring of 1890 where for a few 
vears he was in the emplov of Goulds Manufacturing 
"Co. 

lames K. E.istman was born .and educated in Seneca 
I'alls. He is a practical printer, having learned his 
trade in the old Courier and the Reveille offices. He 
is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of 
Pythias and has been through all of the chairs in the 
local lodge of the latter fraternity. 

The Seneca Countv Courier was established in 
1836 by Isaac Fuller and (). H. Piatt. Those who 
since then have been connected with that paper as 
editors and publishers were N. J. Millikin, I)e.\ter C. 
nioomer, John I.. Davis, Svlvester Pew, l''oster & 
Judd. H. W. Knight, Simeon Holton, Col. A. S. 
Ijaker, State Senator Henry Marshall of Brooklyn, 
A. H. Comstock. Charles T. '.\ndrews, \Vm. V. Van- 
Rensselaer and the late Gen. Henry T. Noyes, of 
Rochester, who was the principal owner of the 
Courier for several years. 

The Seneca Falls Journal was established in i88j 
bv a stock company. N. Pi. Stevens, the hrst editor 
was a member of the company. He was succeeded 
at his death as editor by the late Col. .\. S. Baker 
who in turn w-as succeeded by Mr. Pollard with the 
change in ownership of the paper. 

The Pre-emption Line, tin- present western 
bouudarv of Si-iici ;i iouiit\ buni Wayne county 
nearlv to the lir.id of Seneca lake, was so i-alled as 
defming the line west of which the state of .Massa- 
chusetts possessed the right to purchase from the 
Indians. Two surveys, known as "the old " and "the 
new" pre-emption lines, were made from the state of 
Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario. The first few miles 
of the southern end the two lines were merged, 
diverging in Chemung county and gradually separ- 
ating, each keeping a direct course slightly inclined 
respectively east and west until, reaching Lake 




HiirniWfd Photo. 

HAKKV .M. GLEN, Postmaster. 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOrVKNIR OF SliNF.CA lAI.I.S. 



Ontario, they were 3! miles apart. The first survey, 
the "oUl line" rested on the lake west of Sodus vil- 
lage, the other passed through the renter of Sodus 
Bay. At the foot of Seneca lake they were a mile 
and a quarter apart. 

The historv of these lines is briefly as follows: 

Before the settlement of western New York Massa- 
chusetts claimed title to all of that section of New 
York state west of Seneca lake, comprising more 
than six millions acres of land, now embracing all of 
thirteen coufities and parts of three others. This 
claim rested on a charter granted Plymouth colony 
by the Knglish crown. New York disputing the 
claim, commissioners were named from both states 
and their verdict was decisive. They gave Massa- 
chusetts the pre-emptive right to proprietorship of 
the land and Xew York territorial jurisdiction and 
sovereignty over the same. The decision was made 
and took' effect at Hartford, Ct., Dec. 16, 1786. 
Then followed the sale of most of this land to Oliver 
Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, subsequently trans- 
ferred to Robert Morris and then to Sir William 
Pultenay, a resident of Great Britian. .A.s aliens 
could not hold lands in this country at that time, 
Pultenay sent over Col. Charles Williamson, his 
agent, who became naturalized and took title in his 
own name. 

In consequence of the Hartford decision a survey 
wa^ made in i788-'9 — the "old line" — which was run 
west of Seneca lake on the average of about a mile. 
I'his survev was rejected, on the ground that it had 
been made west of the natural line through the 
intrigues of Indian traders at the foot of Seneca lake, 
and the new survev — "the new line" — was run m 
I7ql-'2. 

The old line crossed into Yates county on the 
boundarv line between the towns of Barrington and 
Starkey and crossed the towns of Milo, Torrey and 
Benton, passing into Ontario county and at the 
hamlet of Bellona striking the highway which runs 
directly north as far as Lyons in Wayne county, 
which it followed to that village, then proceeded 
north to the lake. It passed through the village of 
Geneva on the west. 

The new pre-emption line entered Yates county in 
the town of Starkey a half mile west of Barnes, then 
passed through the west skirts of the villages of 
Himrod and Dresden striking Seneca lake three 
miles north of Dresden. Then it followed the west 
shore to the foot of the lake and frrjm there followed 
the present western boundary of Seneca county, and 
in Wavue county the boundary between the towns of 
Lvons and Sodus on the west and Galen, Rose and 
Huron on the east, north to the lake. 

Land Owners, originally, of Seneea Falls, were 
chielK in.niliirs n( the so-called Bayard Company, 
[described elsewhere]. Their first purchase was 100 
acres of the state on the north side of the river — 
substantially the present F'irst ward of the village, 
the price paid l)eing $2,800. In 1798, four years 
later, the company purchased lot No. U of the Cayuga 
reservation, lying on the south side of the river, con- 
taining 250 acres. Then, in 1801), they added f)5o 
acres, lot No. q, previously owned by .\aron Burr. 
In 1816 they purchased of the heirs of Thomas Grant 
430 acres, lot No. 80, giving them the aggregate of 
1450 acres — both sides of the river embracing all the 
water power. When in 1825 the company dissolved 
the land was parcelled among the five members, 
Robert Troup, Nicholas Gouverneur, Stejjhen N. 
Bayard, Klkanah Watson and Wilhelmus Mynderse. 

(iarry \'. Sacket, .\nsel Basconi aad .\ndrew P. 
Tillman in 1827 made an extensive purchase of land 
on the south side of the river and cut it up into 
village lots. 



SENECA FALX,S CENTENNIAL 

Citizens of Seneca Falls celebrated the centennial 
of the village, July 4. 1887. Henry Stowell, the 
historian of the day, delivered a comprehensive and 
carefully prepared address taking step by step the 
history of the community from the beginning, com- 
prising about all known facts therein, and fully 
detailing the best and most important events. Much 
material has been drawn from this masterful effort 
for The Souvenir, including early industries and 
profession,. 

On the occasion referred to the village was hand- 
somely decorated. A "Pioneer procession" began 
the day's programme which furnished much amuse- 
ment. .\n "Industrial parade" in the afternoon 
brought out an elaborate exhibition of the products 
of the village, of which Maj. B. .\. Wessell was 
marshal. 

The military and fireman's parade, Maj. Pryce W. 
Bailey, grand marshal, consisted of five divisions. 
Col. j. H. .MacDonald was assistant grand marshal. 
The aides were: Dr. I'-. Lester, Samuel .lacoby, .Nelson 
Duntz, W. M. Wilcoxen, Charles Knight, Dr. L. B. 
Dawley, John Chamberlain, Frank Hammond, Frank 
Westcott, Ed. M. Kumsey, A. S. Davis, Charles 
Hoster, John Kaiser, Joseph Swaby, W. S. MacDon- 
ald, Dr. R. B. Covert, Horace Silsby, Fred Swaby 
and L. Wayne. 

The literarv exercises were at Daniels Opera House 
in the afternoon. J. N. Hammond was president of 
the dav. Rev. L. H. Morey and Rev. H. M. Denslow 
were the officiating clergymen. J. D. Pollard read 
the Declaration of Independence, and Henry Stowell 
his historical papers. George Raines of Rochester 
delivered an oration. The day's events closed with 
out-door sports, firemen's races and fireworks in the 
evening. 

Towns of Seneca couuty, past and present; their 
erection; Seneca county was organized March jcj, 
1804— [By Diedrich WillersJ. 

Ovid, Romulus and Ulysses — Org. March 5, 1744. 
Ulysses was anne.xed to Tompkins Co., April 17, 1817. 

Fayette — March 14, 1800. Taken from Romulus. 

Hector — March 30, 1802. From Ovid. F'irst an- 
nexed to Tompkins county when that county was 
organized, .\pril 17, 1817. Now in Schuyler county. 

Junius — Feb. 12, 1803. From Fayette. 

Wolcott — March 24, 1807. From Junius. Wolcott 
in 1812 was annexed to Cayuga county. In 1S17 it 
it was re-annexed to Seneca eounty; and April 11, 
1823, annexed to Wayne county where it is now. 

Galen — Feb. 14, 1812. F'rom Junius. Galen was 
annexed to Wayne county upon the organization of 
that county, April 11, 1823 and is now a part of that 
county. 

Covert — .\pril 7, 1817. F'rom Ovid. That same 
vear Covert was annexed to Tompkins county. On 
April 13, 1819, it was re-annexed to Seneca county. 

Lodi — Jan. 27, 1826. F'rom Covert. 

Seneca F'alls — March 26, 1829. F'rom Junius. 

Tyre — March 26, 1829. F'rom Junius. 

Waterloo — .March 26, 1829. From Junius. 

\'arick — F'eb. 6, 1830. F'rom Romulus. 

Great Bells; the weight, viz: — "Great Bell," 
Musniw, 443,732 pounds; St. Ivans, Moscow; 127.- 
8:50 pounds; Pekin, 1 20,000 pounds; ^'ienna, 40,200 
pounds; Olmutz, Bohemia, 40,000 pounds; Rouen, 
h'rance, 40,000 pounds; St. Paul's, London, 38.470 
"Big Ben," Westminister, 30,330 pounds; Montreal, . 
28,5(10 pounds; St. Peters", Rome. 18,600 pounds; 
Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, cast in London in 1732, 
weighes 2.000 pounds. It was cracked the first time 
it was used in 1733 and was recast in Philadelphia 
the same vear. A few vears after the Revolution it 
was cracked again while being rung. 



■'GRIP'S' HIST(.)RICAL SOUVENIR ()!• SliNKCA FALLS. 



The Musical-Literary Society, which has f<ii- 
its ohject the sti'dv of classical music, the history and 
characterization of composers, the promotion nf taste 
lor puritv in music, was formed in iSi)7, under the 
direction of Mr. .\. I". C .lolmson of Chicago, repre- 
sent.iti\e of the W'llliiir .M. Derthick federation of 
four hundred clubs. Si.xteen charter members were 
enrolled and the following olTicers elected: 

President, Miss Belle L. Palmer; Secretary an<l 
Treasurer, Miss Wilhehnina S. Brown: Program 
Committee, Mrs. George H. Cusl ing. .Miss Mar\ 
Cruise, Mr. .lames .\. Schoonmaker. 

ICnthusiasm has been the watchword and mui-h 
excellent work has been done with frequent recitals 
bv club members and assisting talent, including 
several chorus recitals of a high order, under the 
training of Mr. Walter Baylis Crabtree. 

.\fter three vears' connectiim with the I''eder,-ition 



being studied. The office of president has been filled 
since the organization of the club by Miss Palmer. 
Miss Brown again serves as secretary and treasurer, 
and Mrs. .\deline Cowing acts as historian. The 
accompanying engraving represents the ofiicers and a 
few of the jiresent members including several of the 
c-\-ol1icers. 

Cloth Dressing.-[By Mrs. L. K. Sanford].— 
On May 13, 1806, the first fulling mill for cloth dress- 
ing and carding was established at the foot of Kail 
street, where the Littlejohns now have their marble 
shops. .\ pair of carding machines were put in by 
Jacob and Louis Sherrill, of New Hartford. Col. 
Mynderse reserved the right to purchase the machines 
at S900 which he did and leased the works at §200 a 
vear for three years to William Bruce. In 1814 Har- 
ris I'sher conducted the same win'ks. then Ansel 




Prud.n, I'h.it.i. THE MUSK'AL-LITEH A K V CLlli. 

rpiH-r Row (left to riifht)— Miss Minnie Babcoek. Miss liTtlm Hummer, Miss Gertrude Van Dyke, May- 
niird .lacoby. Mrs. Blancliard Baker, Miss Flora Co.v, Miss Cora Covert, Miss Jennie Wicks, Mrs. Maynard 
Jacoby, Edward Bowie. Lower Kow— Dr. Hubert Schooumaker, Mrs. Philo Cowinj?, Historian; Miss Belle 
Palmer, President; Miss Wilhelmina Brown, Secretary and Treasurer; Mrs. Hubert Solioonraaker. 



the ilub reduced the expense of membership and 
admitted assoi-iate members: assuming control of 
the management therebv reaching the Derthick rela- 
ti<ins. The roll call was increased to sixty-live 
names. At this dale .1 change has been effected in 
the requirements of the members regarding the study 
undertaken. .\ssociates and chorus work are no 
longer a feature and twenty-live hard working stud- 
ents are enjoying to a full degree the programs 
given fortnightly at private houses instead of in the 
public hall formerly u.sed. Each member serves as 
chairm.'in and a friendly rivalry characterizes the 
work. The old masters beginning with Bach are 



Fitch, who was succeeded by Henry and Ebenezer 
Ingalls. The second wool carding establishment was 
opened by W. J. Woodworth, of Tyre, in 183S, using 
a building owned bv the Deys, where the first Oal- 
rymple mill now stands, then it passed into the 
hands of Smith & Son and was known as a woolen 
mill. W'illiam Braman succeeded the Smiths, run- 
'ningitasa carding mill for many j'ears. Many of 
us remember the old mill. Chester Braman, a grand- 
son of William Braman, is now a member of the 
successful firm of A. Julliard & Co. of New '^'ork City. 
There was a fulling mill in 1834, owned by Watson 
& Terrell on Water street. 



(.6 



•■CKU'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




SEABITRY 8. GUULl), 

Founder of Oiiuld's Miinufactuiing Co. 

[For view of his late residenc-e see pasie !Ki.] 

The Goulds Manufacturing Company is the 

iiutgriivvtii of tile linn ul Diiwns & Cu.. which was 
the first pump factory established in this place in 
iM4« at the "Old St(in.> Slioii' at the coiner of Ovid 
and Cireen streets, 

I roin this small beginning emploving onlv 
twinty-h\e to thirty men and under the guiding 
inlluence of Mr. S. S. (iould. wli.i in iS^j Ijecanie 
connected with the comiiany — its prosperity and suc- 
cess was continuous, and its business interests in- 
creased until it was necessary that a larger shop 
should he provided. The Company, therefore, 
purch.-ised the old Tillman liotel and taiinerv prop- 
erty on Ovid street. Here were erected what were 
regarded at that time as large and e.\tensive works 
in which the Company continued the manufacture of 
|iuiiips which had acquired a \erv e\lensi\e reputa- 
tion throughout the whole conntrv. 

In 1864 the name of the Conipan\' was changed 
from Downs & Co. to the Cioulds Manufacturing Co. 
The business was continued at the same location 
with ever increasing success; new buildings, machin- 
ery, etc.. were added to its plant; and the Company 
continued to develop until i<S7o, wlien its factories 
were destroyed by hre. Immediately thereafter, how- 
ever, the works were rebuilt and extended more 
largely than before. .Almost each year since that 
time has seen some new building planned or exe- 
cuted, until The ("loulds Manfacturing Company, 
which had started from so small a beginning, now- 
had increasiul so that every available foot of the 
ground that it ouned between the canal and river 
had been built upon, as well as a large seven-storv 
wjirehouse on liayard street. In many instarce's. 
buildings had been erected extending over both the 
can.il ;mil ttie river, to such e.\trenies was the 
Company subjected in order to provide manufactur- 
ing facilities for their large and increasing business, 
111 i()<.x> the business of this company had increased 
t.) such .-in e,\tent that new property was acquired in 



the western part of the village, covering ten acres, 
and here was erected another large and entirelv 
independent plant for the manufaiture of Triple.v 
I'ower Pumps, for uhich this cnmp.nn li.id m tin- 
previous years acquired a \ery extensive and worlil- 
wide reputation, 

Ouring all these years the business has continued 
to grow; new buildings have been planned and p;o- 
vided and new machinery has been purchased until 
The C'loulds Manu'a'turing Company of the present 
time employs ')5() hands, and its wares are known 
not only in every part of the United States but in all 
parts of the world, the company having agents ,ind 
connections in every important cit\- in the w.irld. 

I he adairs of the company are managed with a 
Targe corps of able engineers and ellicient and honor- 
able men in its various e.\eciiti\e departments, and 
the Company is without doubt not only the leading 
industry of this village, but one of the largest and 
most prominent manufacturing concf rns of the state, 
and indeed, of tlie whole nation. 

Seabury S. Gould, the founder of C'louhK Maii- 
ulacturing Co., was born in Sharon, Conn., .\ug. 8, 
1812. His first business venture was at Ellenville, N. 
v.. and shortly afterwards at Poughkeepsie. In 1854 
he came to Seneca Falls and began life as a mer- 
chant. In i.^t2 he sold his mercantile interests and 
engaged in the manufacture of pumps at the "Old 
Stone Shop," corner of Ovid and Cireen streets. The 
linn was known at that time as Downs iSc Co. In 
1835 they purchased the Tillman hotel ;ind tannery 
property on the site of the present Goulds Manufac- 
turing Company's No. i shops. Mr. Could giving his 
time and attention to the manufacturing interests of 
this company. In 1864, Mr. Downs having severed 
his connection with the company, the firm name \\,is 
changed to The Goulds Manufacturing Compam-, 
,\Ir, Gould being the president thereof and continu- 
ing in this capacity until his death, 

Mr, (Sould was a familiar figure in all the various 
interesis of this village. His wise counsel was asked 
by many, and his unfailing good nature and pleasant 
manner gave him ;i host of friends. During his life 
tlie business of the Goulds Manufacturing Com]i;iii\ 




JAMES H. OOULI). 



"("■RIPS' HISroKICAl. SOrX'l'AIR Ol' SENECA EAl.LS. 




SKAIUKY S. lidlLII, yECIiNI) 

had increased from one in which thev emploved fnrty 
In lUly men tti uver 400 workmen; and, instead of 
their manufactured fjoods being confined simply to 
this country, their connections had been established in 
every important city of the world, and their business 
had increased to such great proportions that large 
and extensive buildings wee constantly added to 
iheir manufactory, until it has outgrown its present 
quarters and greater additions are yet contemplated. 
Mr. Ciould died at Watch Hill, R". I,, September 4, 
aged 74 years. He was a man of ceaseless 



iS.Sf,, 



activity, untiring energy and excellent business 
.ibility, w hich made him lor about fifty years a prom- 
inent individual in our village and identified his 
name with one of olh' largest industries. 



James H. Gould was born in Seneca I'alls, \. 
^., ().i, _M, iS4_|. He was graduated from the \il- 
lage schools, also from Dwight's High Si-hool, 
Clinton, \. Y. After lea\ iiig school he engaged in 
business in New "^'ork City, where hi' remained until 
1867, when he returned to .Seneca l.'ills to assist 
his father in tlie management of his then exti-nsive 
l-iump business. He succeeded his falhei in the active 
management of the business in 1S72, after which 
time he was the dominating and controlling spirit of 
Tlie (ioulds Manufacturing Company, and in i88fi, 
after the death of his father, was elected president of 
the company. 

Mr. Gould developed great tact and ability in 
increasing the business of the t Ioulds Manufacturing 
Company ,ind in .addition to this he was always very 
greatly interested in matters connected with other 
interests of this village. He was a man of excellent 
judgment and was often consulted by his friends in 
regard to business and other matters in which they 
might be interested. His personal influence was 
marked and his labors constant and unrrmittting. 
The important business interests to which he gave 
the best years of his manhood flourished to a marked 
degree, and the business of the (ioulds Manufactur- 
ing Company under his leadership and guidance 
increased from year to year until it is now one of the 
largest pump manufacturing houses in the world. 

.Mr. Gould, at the time of his death, was president 
of the I'.xchange National Bank of Seneca Falls. He 
was largely instrumental in establishing this hank 
and its success was largely owing to his ability and 
good judgment in the management of its affairs. Mr. 
Goidd died IVc .-S, iS,)(,. 

Seabury S. Gould, Second, was born in 
Seneca Falls, N. Y., Dec. to, 1848. He was educated 
in the public schools of this village and at Dwight's 
High School at Clinton, N. Y. Leaving this scho.il 
he entered Hamilton College, graduating from th.it 
institution in 186S. 

Immediately after leaving college Mr. ( iould went 
to Williamsport. P.i., to oversee a blast furn.ice 




GUILDS RESIDBM'K. 



68 



••GHIl'S- HISIORICAI. SUUVtNlK OK StNtCA FALLS. 



whirh was the property of his father. It being found 
unpriilitable to manufacture iron so far from the inni 
and ((lal interests, the property was sold and Mr. 
('..iiild returned to Seneca I'alls in 1872, when he 
entered the emplov of The CiduUIs .Manufacturing 
Companv as its secretary, ffe lontinued in this re- 
lation to the company for many years, and upon the 
death of his father in 18S6 he was elected vice presi- 
dent of the company. That oliice he retained until 
1896, when upon the death of his brother he was 
elected president nf the cnmpain. the pusition he 
still occupies. 

While the Cioulds Manufacturing Company has 
been successful in previous years, its success has been 
none the less marked under the present e.\ecutive. It 
was during Mr. Gould's administration that the 
(loulds Manufacturing Company took a new and 
radical departure, purchasing a large property in the 



Iroquois; The Six Nations, the Mr.st Powerful 
and Cruel of .\inerican Indians; They Became 
the Terror to all Other Lastern Indians; The 
Long House: The Uulers and Tribes: The Indi- 
ans as thev were first I'civmd in America. 
The white men coming to this continent early in 
the sixteenth century found it peopled with two 
great families of Indians. The larger were the .W- 
gonquins wlio occupied nearly all of \'irginia, Penn- 
sylvania, New Jersey, the south-eastern part nf the 
state of New York, New England, Xew Brunswick, 
Xova Scotia and Lower Canada. Kntirely .sur- 
rounded bv the numerous tribes of which these 
.Mgonquins were composed, were the Iroquois, their 
traditional foes, a wild .and intractible people, who 
from being at that time the weaker and sm.aller of 
the twc: families, at last became the stronger; and in 




[from a Print 



,1 -GUILUS NU. I SHCII'S ■ 

View of Goulils Mauufacturinjf Oo.'s Old Works witli Present Ailditicms Thereto 



western part of the village and thereon erecting an 
extensive and entirely distinct plant tor the manufac- 
ture of its Triplex Power Pumps. Mr. (lould has 
always considered this decision on his part as prob- 
ably the most important thing that has come into 
his business life. T'he development of the interests 
of the tioulds .Manufacturing Company has always 
been his constant and untiring aim and study, and 
his efforts, early and late have been devoted to the 
furtherment ( f the best interests of the company. 

Mr. Gould is a man highly respected in the com - 
munitv and is worthy of trust and confidence in 
everv walk and phase of life. He is vice president 
of the Exchange Naticmal Bank of this place. 



spite of the Eremh finally dispersed and nearly ex- 
terminated the Algonquin race. .Speaking tlie 
generic tongue of the Iroquois but never occupying a 
place in tlieir councils or holding any tribal relations 
with them, were the .\ndastes on and near the Sus- 
quehanna river, the Eries or Cat nations, living 
along the southern shore of Lake Erie, the neutral 
nation north of Lake ICrie and west of the Niagara 
river, the Hurons. on the north and east shores of 
Lake Huron, the Winnebagos, on the west shore of 
Lake Michigan, and the Tuscaroras, situated in the 
Carolinas. 

The true Iroquois, consisting of the hve nations 
banded together only for defensive alliance, extended 
through Central New York from the Huds(^n to the 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR UV SKNECA lAI.I.S. 



("ipnesee rivers. It is with these savages that the 
historv nf this state, ami in fact ail local history of 
Central and Northern New York state towns is inter- 
woven. Of all the savages on the face of the earth 
Ihev were the most barbarous and inhuman, making 
war on .ill tribes the\' could reach for no other pur- 
pt se tlian to destro\- them. Upon their prisoners 
they practiced the most revolting forms of torture, 
occasionally adopting the bravest of them in order 
iM fill up their constantly depleting ranks, but on no 
nllier account sparing the life of any poor creature 
who happened to fall into their hands. The French- 
man Cartier, in 1535, found the main bodv of the 
Iroquois living along the northern shore of the St, 
Lawrence river in the vicinity of what are now Mon- 
tre.il and Three Rivers whence tliey were soim after 
driven south bv the .-\lgcmquins. 

Indian traditions relate that the Iroquois and the 
.Vlgonquins at one time traded peacablv together. 
The latter whose lodges were often pitched on the 
shores of the sea, were skilled fishermen as well as 



who in return would teach them liow to procure game. 
The pupils soon proved better than the tutors and so 
e.vcited the latter to envy that they turned upon and 
massacred them. From that time began the Iroquois 
scourge which not only swept the .\lgonquins from 
the earth but destroyed the Hurons and the Kriesand 
carried the tomahawk and torch all over the countrv 
west of the Mississippi and north of Georgia and the 
Carolinas. In fact it is known that the Iro(|uois 
made the Indian tribes of the Tennessees tremble 
long before the white man had ever been heard of l,v 
them. 

Tire Iroquois, according to the Jesuits, were at the 
height of their prosperity about the middle of the 
seventeenth century, their numbers then being reck- 
oned at about 35,000. including approximately 3,000 
warriors. They were then hemmed in bv the two 
white nations who were threatening to drive them 
from their lands but whose jealousies forbade a union 
of effort against the savages and enabled the latter 
to keep lioth at their distance. When finallv their 




[From a Print. 1 ■■tiulLliS XI). 

New Plant of The (ioulds Mauufiieturinj; Compan.v 

Power PuEiipe: er( 

hunters and thev lived alnmst entirely bv the chase. 

They held the Iroquois, who were largely agricultur- 
ists, in great contempt, treating them as beings far 
inferior to themselves. For vears the Iroquois were 
subjected to everv sort of indignity at the hands of 
their more numerous neighbors. At last the period 
of retribution arrived and the weaker neighbor arose 
in a vengeful fury and prosecuted a war against the 
Algonqulns with such fearful pertinacity and vigor 
that that unfortunate nation changed from scorning 
bullies to terror stricken fugitives, seeking safety by 
dispersing to the remotest regions of the great Cana- 
dian wilderness and was hnally almost exterminated. 

Tradition, explaining the immediate cause of the 
uprising of the Iroquois against their tormentors, 
says that on an occasion when the .-Mgonquins were 
overtaken with a poor hunting season, they' invited 
several of the young Iroquois to assist their hunters, 



■-' !SH(IPS.' 

for the Mrtiiulacliire tit their ( 'I'ielirateii TiipK.v 

cted laOl. 

struggle lor supreiniic\ had ce.ised the Iroquois, like 
all of the other Indian nations, were doomed. "It is 
by the most subtle policy," says Lafitau speaking of 
the Iroquois, "that they have taken the ascendent 
over the other nations, divided and overcoms the 
most warlike, made themselves a terror to the most 
remote and now hold a peaceful neutrality between 
the English and F'rench, courted and feared by both." 

In 1715 the Tuscaroras were received by the Iro- 
quois into their family and they were thereafter 
known as the Six Nations. The Oneidas divided 
their lands with the Tuscaroras whom they con- 
sidered as brothers, i. e., equals, but who were 
regarded by the other of the five nations as inferiors 
who were to be tolerated but not considered. 

The Long House, as the country of the Iroquois 
was termed, was guarded on the east by the ^^lhawks, 
who lived along the river of that name and possessed 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



three strongly palisaded villages standing on its 
banks. The western portals in the western extremity 
of this state, were held by the Seiiecas, whose chief 
towns were scattered through what are now Seneca. 
Monroe and Cienesee countie.s. These were the war- 
given nations, the most populous and the most to be 
feared bv their enemies. The Oneidas defended the 
wa'er-ci>urses from the north and the south where 
the headwatersof the .Susquehanna opened favorable 
highwavs of travel towards the southern tribes and 
where the Oneida lake broke down the wilderness 
barriers towards the numerous red men on the north. 
Thev had two palisaded towns but a few miles apart 
and their fields of mai/e and grain occupied the 
largest portions of Oneida, Madison, Chenango and 
Broome counties. The Ommdagas held the water- 
w;ivs Idle nalur.il ciir-^cs of tr.n''l f'lr war parties ..f 



descended the chief of the Onondagas known as 
.Atotaharo, holding the most exalted place in the 
confederacv. .Atotaharo was not in the livilized 
sense the ruler of the six nations. His was the 
most dignified place and he was accept^il as the 
wiseacre of the league. He was the chief of the 
sachems, the wise men of all the tribes who gathered 
to the number of hfty at the great council house of 
the Onondagas to discuss the affiairs of the league, 
receive runners and diplomats from other Indian 
nations and consider other matters which might be 
regarded as of concern to .dl of the six nations. The 
Iroquois were not governed. They were absolutely 
controlled bv popular ilamor. The old men who 
had distinguished themselves were the advisors of the 
risppctivf- nations .ind wrre liv taiit consPiit. and not 




savages) connecting Lake Ontario, via the Osuego 
river with the interior country adjacent to the inland 
chain of New York lakes and the most western trib- 
utaries of the Susquehanna river, their chief town the 
geographical and political center of the confederacy, 
being located on the slope of a range of hills fifteen 
miles south of the present city of Syracuse. The 
Cayugas, the smallest of the five nations, occupied 
the country next west of the Onondagas. 

The Mohawks and the Oneidas were divided into 
the Bear, Wolf and Tortoise clans while the other 
three nations consisted of eight, viz: Wolf, Bear, 
Beaver, Tortoise, Deer, Snipe, Heron and Hawk. 
Tradition alone is all the authority available for a 
description of the formation of the league and by it 
is ascribed to a celestial being from whom was 



GOULDS NO. 2 SHOPS. 
TnttTlor view of one end of the;Machine Shop. 

bv any formality, permitted to gather at the council 
lires of the nation and have a voice in the proceed- 
ings. These assemblies were dignified by the Jesuits 
who lived among them in their writings, Lahtau 
calling the gathering of each nation a senate. 

There were two hereditary war chiefs, both be- 
longing to the Senecas, but any man of sufficient 
personal credit might raise a war party when he 
chose. War was not carried on at any time so far as 
is known, in unison by the Wve nations. During the 
Iroquois campaigns against the French and Hurons 
the .Mohawks were the chief aggressors and it was to 
that nation that the Jesuit priest Isaac Jogues was 
accredited by the French at the time he made his 
perilous journey to their palisaded tow-ns on the 
Mohawk river for the purpose of securing peace. 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



The First Road into Seneca county is thus des- 
cribed in Do.uiiirnt.'iry History i>f New York "bv a 
•;ontleman to a lripn<l": "To remedy this inconven- 
ience as to roads, the legislature of the state had, hv 
;in act passed in the session of 1797. taken the road 
frcini Fort Schuyler [now Rome] to Geneva under 
thi ir patronage" [granting a lottery]. The inhabi- 
tants of the country through which the road passed 
subscribed four thousand days of work, "which thev 
performed with fidelity and cheerfulness." This 
road 98 miles long, 64 feet wide and "paved with 
logs and gravel in the moist parts of the low countr\ 
through which it passed," was so far improved 
beginning in the month of June 1797, that a stage 
started from 1-ort Schuyler on the 30th of September 
[1797] and arrived at the hotel in Geneva in the 
afternoon of the third da\- with four passengers. 



The Kingdom; its name. — Several theories have 
been advancid as to how the Kingdom, an old settle- 
ment west of Seneca Falls, obtained that name. Mr. 
Harrison Chamberlain writes of it elsewhere. .Mr. 
B. F. Heach writes as follows: It has been a question 
as to why this hamlet — the "Kingdom" was so called. 
When I lived there, forty-six years ago, I asked some 
of the old natives the question. They said that 
when the distillery, stores and tavern were in a thriv- 
ing condition, the day line of boats on the canal 
either way would head for the Kingdom and tie up 
tor the night. The place in those days had the rep- 
utation of sporting. There were chicken and dog 
hghts, which always resulted in listic altercations 
between the native yeomanry (w-ho styled themselves 
kings of the place) and the boatmen, and as the latter 




Pnideii, I'hutu. :SEXELA COI'XCIL. No. :W, 1)-\L'GHTEKS OF AMEKR'A. 

Lower Row (Iftt to right)— Miss Jennie Woodruff, Inside Sentinel; Mrs. Sarah Sadler. A. V. CounciUor: 
Mrs. Emma Sackett, Councillor; .Mrs. Cyntha A. Norion. Reeordinsr Secretary; Miss Camilla Messingrer, A. K. 
Secretary. Top Row— Mrs. Lillian Brown, Warden; Miss Frances Sutton, Trustee; Jlrs. JLou Durlinar, Finan- 
cial Secretary; Mrs. Edna Brown. Outside Sentinel; Mrs. Lizzie Carter, Trustee. 



"This line of road having been established by law," 
continues the \vriter, "not less than fifty families 
settled on it in the space of four months after it was 
opened." 

Two or three years afterwards two coaches were 
running weekly over this road between .\lbany and 
Geneva; and the following taverns, at indicated dis- 
tances apart between Fort Schuyler and Geneva were 
open: From Fort Schuyler to Laird's, 10 miles; Van- 
Epps', near Oneida Reservation, 6: Wemps' in 
Oneida Reservation, [Castle], 6; Sill's, at the Deep 
Opting, [Chittenango], ii; Keeler's, Junior, 12: 
Tyler's, Onondaga Hollow, 10; Rice's, Xine Mile 
Creek, 10; Cayuga Ferrv, [Cayuga Bridge], 20; 
Powell's Hotel, Geneva, iV 



were outnumbered, were nearly always vanquished' 
Hence the name Kingdom was applied to the place. 

Packets in 1S22 ran from Utica to Montezuma, 
and from the latter place passengers went to Bridge- 
port in a row boat or by stage, where they took a 
boat to Ithaca. Steam navigation was opened on 
Cayuga lake between Bridgeport and Itha<a, prob- 
ably a year earlier. When the Seneca canal was 
finished in 1828 packets ran through between Sche- 
nectady and Buffalo. The first boat navigating the 
Seneca canal regularly was the ".\deline " in 1S14. 
Then in 1816 came the ".Miller. " The iirst canal 
boat built ^in Seneca Falls was the "Merchant" 
launched in'iS23. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Jacob P. Chamberlain."- Of those who have 
contributcil to lin^ growth and prosperity of Seneca 
Falls the subject of this sketch deserves to rank 
among the foremost. He was of English descent, 
born in the town of Dudley, Mass., and his ancestors 
were among the first settlers of the Bay State. He 
came with his parents to Cortland, N. Y. when only 
live years old, and two years later, or in 1809, to 
Waterloo, X. V. His parents died in i8ig, when he 
was seventeen years of age. W;th a common school 
education and the courage and will inherited of a 
sturdy ancestry he soon set out to make his own way 
in life. His taste was for teaching and farming. He 
was fond of books; he loved the soil — loved to 
investigate its processes and study the best methods 
of tilling it. In its pursuit there was a freedom that 
appealed to him. He first accepted an engagement 
to teach in one of the district schools of the town of 
Varick and so satisfactory was his service to the 
trustees that he was continued at an increased salary. 
He married Catharine, the daughter of Frederick 




Copied from old Print liy Piiuleu. 

J. P. CHAMBEKLAIN. 

Kunev, and bought a small farm of seventy-h\e 
acres, upon which the only improvement, aside from 
the clearings, was a story and half log house.' Here 
out of the income of the land and the earnings as a 
school teacher he managed soon to pay for his farm. 
\'arick recognized his worth and honored him with 
positions of trust. 

In the fall of 1831 Mr. C. moved to the Kingdom, 
buying the Dimmick farm of two hundred acres just 
south of the river bridge. His object in making this 
change was to be nearer his brothers, as well as out 
of deference to the wish of his early and most trusted 
friend, Ju4ge Gary V. Sackett. Here for twelve 
years he pursued farming, upon a more extensive 
scale, his interest in the soil deepening and continu- 
ing during all his life, inducing him to invest largely 
in lands and to prefer always to be regarded as a 
farmer. 

In 1843 Mr. C. was compelled much against his 
wishes at the time to buy the "Lower Red Mills." 
Though the business was entirely new to him he soon 



mastered it, making it a leading and successful 
industry, the grain bought and the flour shipped east 
and to tide-water creating a market that materially 
aided the agricultural and mercantile interests of the 
place. 

In 1844 he became one of the incorporators and 
directors of the Seneca Woolen Mills. This enter- 
prise was one of the largest and most advanced of its 
day. In 1854 he sold out the "Lower Red Mills'" tn 
Edward Mynderse and .\lexander Van Cleef and 
bought the "Upper Red Mills," then known as the 
"Dey Mills." This mill has done a large business 111 
the past and still continues in the family. 

So disasterous usually had been the milling and 
grain business to those who pursued it that it.may be 
well to refer to a rule that .Mr. C. adopted and newr 
departed from. .\ ready buyer of grains at all times, 
he was just as ready a seller. If he bought five 
thousand bushels of wheat today, he placed the same 
;it once on the market, either in grain or flour, tak- 
ing the margins, which though small were usually on 
the right side. He never speculated, nor held for 
fancy prices, nor could he understand why failure 
should come if prudent business principles were 
observed. In 1835 he felt much chagrined over the 
forced liquidation of the Seneca Woolen Mills, but 
still having unshaken faith in it he set to work and 
re-organized it under the name of "The Pha-nix Co.,' 
becoming its president and personally looking after 
Its management and making it prosperous down to 
the time the property was sold to .\bel Downs and 
.\lbert lewett in 18(14. In 1870 he i)ecame president 
of The Seneca l-'alls Savings Bank, an institution 
much needed at the time to furnish our laboring 
pi-ople with a safe and convenient place to deposit a 
I)art of their weekly earnings, and the success of it 
lias long ago confirmed the wisdom of its foundeis. 
In politics Mr. C. was originally a Whig, but in 
i85f>, on the organization of. the Republican party, 
he was among the most earnest and enthusiastic to 
embark in the new mo\enient. He felt that a new 
[larty was necessary. He believed that our public 
domain should be consecrated to freedom, that 
slavery should be restrained within its existing state 
limits' and that under no condition whatever should 
our national policy compromise or impair the declar- 
ation of principles upon which our government was 
founded. In 1839 he was elected to represent this 
county in the legislature, and two years later, he was 
a representative in the 37th Congress, from thisdis- 
trict, then made up of the counties of Ontario, Yates 
,ind Seneca. It was in the midst of a great crisis, 
calling for the most loyal and devoted service to 
save the country from its open and secret foes, and 
the work of that congress stands out amcmg the best 
and noblest in all our history. 

Mr. C. was a member of the .Methodist Episcopal 
church, for a long time at the head of its board of 
trustees, looking after its finances. Nearly the last 
active work of his life was to personally superintend 
the construction of the present edifice, to which he 
contributed liberally of his means. 

To sum up Mr. C. was a self-made man, high- 
minded and honorable, of large business capacities, 
not without faults but whattver they were they 
sprung from a strong and generous nature. He was 
a conscientious school teacher, a good farmer, a pru- 
dent, energetic miller, an enterprising manufacturer, 
a benevolent churchman, a patriotic and public- 
spirited citizen, and a kind, noble and generous 
parent, --finding in all his activities the desire and 
ability to contribute to the good of others both the 
inspiration to and the ample reward for his efforts. 
He passed away in 1878 in the -6th year of his age, 
leaving six children, of whom at present survive four, 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OI- SENECA FALLS. 



73 




HAKKISUN CHAMBEHLAIN. 

Cull. JTiiiik L'h.iiiilierlain of Wasli'iigt. .11, I). C, 

M|->. L. C. .\\fi'\ ami HarriMin Chaiiibpilain cjf 

SoiiPca I'alls. \, \'. and Mrs. 1 . C. Noyt-s of 
KNuhcsler, X. "l'. 

The Seneca Woolen Mills built and oifjan- 
i/ed ill ii^^4, was nne nf the iiicisl inipdrtant enter- 
prises III' its day and for more than lialf a irntury it 
lias played a leading part in the growth and history 
of our village. In 1855 the parties conducting the 
mills re-organized under the niime of "The Phamix 
Co." .larob P. Chamberlain becoming president, Wil- 
liam .lohnson agent and Harrison Chamberlain 
secretary. The line of manufacture was plain and 
fancv men's wear, and though it was a time when 
the countrv was laboring under free trade and when 
It was swept bv the panic of '37 the mills did well, 
running full down to 1864. when they were trans- 
ferred to .\bel Downs and .\lbert Jewett. I'lider the 



new management the business was enlarged and two 
other large properties were taken in > (instituting 
mills N'ns. 2 and 3, making by far the laigest nianu- 
lacturing concern in the place, in Ihe help employed, 
w'ages ]),'iid i>ut and the \alue ol uulpul. Some 
'wenty years later the mills were again re-organized, 
\os. 2 and 3 properties were sold off and the original 
pl.ant, The Seneca Woolen Mills, rehtted and equip- 
ped with new machinery; and since i8;)o they have 
been operated successfully. The essential need in 
woolen manufacture is to have the skill and mechan- 
ical facilities, enabling you to get out as desirable 
fabrics and at as low cost as any other indl. In 
other words, under the law of the survival of the 
fittest, the woolen mill to succeed must be a model 
mill in all its ap|iointments. 

In i8go when the present proprietor, Harrison 
Chamberlain, took hold of the mills it was difficult 
to understand why the machinery, much of it hardly 
worn, could not be operated successfully. But so 
gieat had been the improvements and important the 
new processes that it was found necessary tore-equip 
and re-arrange the mills throughout, involving large 
outlays of money, before they could be put on a safe 
and profitable basis. 

Today the mills are able to compete for the best 
trade, and are doing so, employing about 175 hands 
and a considerable portion of the works being com- 
pelled to run during the nights. Over hve thousand 
dollars are paid out every month for wages, over two 
thousand pounds of wool go into the works every 
day and over twelve hundred yards of six-quarter 
iloth are produced dailv, of a value of three hundred 
.nul liftv thousand dollars a year. 

HENRY STOWELL, HISTORIAN 

Of all xxritrrs wh.i lunc atlriiiplrd to preserve 
local history in Seneca Falls, Henry Stowell deserves 
a conspicuous place. Not one has done more in this 
way than he. In fact a great part of Seneca Falls 
history is interwoven with facts which he has 
gleaned for his new-spaper. The Reveille, or historical 
addresses, considerable of which is used in this work. 





Ml 


V Aii. 




Pniden, Ptioto. 



HARRISON CHAMBERLAIN'S RESIDENCE. 



"GRIPS' HISTOKICAl. SOIVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Court House; how located — [By Diedrich Wil- 
lers.] — In an historical paper read before the Waterloo 
Library and Historical Society, Feb. 7, 187S, Mr. 
Charles D. Morgan says that the site for the Court 
House at Waterloo, conveyed by Hon. Elisha Wil- 
liams, was selected and staked out in 181 7, and that 
Hon. Daniel W. Bostvvick of that village first broke 
ground for that Ijuilding. The commissioners 
appointed to erect a court house and jail were Hon. 
John Knox (then state senator), Reuben Swift and 
John Watkins. They reported to the board of super- 
visors in the fall of 1S17. that S4,<x)o had been 
subscribed bv \"oluntarv contributions towards such 
buildings. The supervisors were asked to raise a 
like amount but refused ia do so, and bnalU' before 
adjourning \(ileii the sum of live hundred dollars for 
that purpose. .\t a specijil sessit)n of the board of 
supervisi*rs held .Mav 13, 1818, the expenditure (.f 



tinuation of a half-shire court house system, inaugu- 
rated in 1822, in the double jury district system, and 
such half-shire system has been continu.^d until this 
(lav. 

It is not the purpose of this paper to refer to thi- 
rotation svstem between the two jury districts long 
practiced by the leading piditical parties of the 
countv, in the selection of landidates for county 
officers, and which rotation during its continuance 
gave good satisfaction, although of late years much 
departed from. 

Canal; when begun and completed — Elisha Wil- 
liams of Hudson, X. v., was among the first to 
improve Seneca river by constructing an hydraulic 
canal for water power purposes at Waterloo, .\fter 
that work was completed in the year 1813 the state 
legislature incorporated the Seneca Lock Navigation 
Company, a private company, to improve the navi- 




Pruden. Pboto. THE SENECA 

an additional sum of four hundred dollars was auth- 
orized, and at the fall session of the board in the 
same year, 81,730 additional was voted, to which 
$2,080.59 ^^'^ added by the board in 1819, thus 
amounting to more in the aggregate than the amount 
originally asked for by the commissioners. 

The people of the south end of the county, dissatis- 
fied with the removal of the county seat from Ovid 
where it was first located, to Waterloo in 1817, 
procured the passage of an act in 1822, dividing the 
countv into two jury districts for the better, accom- 
modation of jurors, the division being made at the 
south line of Fayette. Thus the county buildings at 
Ovid were again brought into use. 

By the erection of Wayne county the village of 
Waterloo was located only eight miles from the 
north line of the county, which caused the people of 
the south end of the county to insist upon the con - 



WonI.E.N MILLS. 

gatioi) of the Seneca river by constructing locks 
around the falls and rap'ds therein, and these im- 
provements were completed so that in 1818 loaded 
canal boats from the east could pass through the 
Seneca river, as improved, up to Geneva. 

The legislature, in 1823, authorized the construc- 
tion of the Cayuga & Seneca Canal from Geneva to 
a junction with the Erie canal at a distance of 
twenty-one miles, principallv in the old town of 
Junius. 

The state succeeded by purchase. tf> all rights of 
the Seneca Lock Navigation Companv and completed 
its canal in November, 1828. 

The Erie canal, the construction of which was 
commenced in 1817, was completed in October, 1823, 
passing through the northeast corner of Seneca 
countv. 



•GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Ladies' Aid Society No. 4^, auxiliary to H. T. 
Ni>\e-- Camp, No. iqq, Sons of Veterans, was organ- 
i/pH May 2>. 1403, with. a charter membership of J2. 
Being a cumparativelv new society. No. 45 has of 
course very little history. The first and present 
president is .Mrs. Phena .Morehouse who is assisted by 
an able and enthusiastic corps of ofFicers and mem- 
bers. The objects of this association are to aid the 
(i. .\. K. in caring for disabled veterans, soldiers' 
widows and orphans, to assist in the proper obsrrx- 
ance of Memorial Day and especially to aid the Sons 
of \'eterans in both social and hnancial matters. 
Meetings are held on the ist, 3rd and 3th Wednes- 
davs of each ni.mth .Tt Son'- of A'eterans' hall. 

First Lords of the Soil. — Cadwallader Colden 
in his historv of the Five Nations speaks of them as 
;i "poor and generallv cnllerl harbarou-^ people, bre<l 



fear. Every sudden repartee in a public treaty leaves 
with them an impression of a light inconsiderate 
mind; but in private conversation thev use and are 
delighted with brisk, wittv answers." 

Greatest Fires. — London, Sept. j-h, 1666, 13,- 
200 residences and 8g churches and public buildings 
destroyed. New York, Dec. 16, 1835, 600 buildings; 
loss §20,000,000. Pittsburg, April 10, 1845, 1,000 
buildings; loss $6,(K)0,ooo. Philadelphia, July 9, 
iSjo, 3jo buildings; loss Si,5(X),o<». St. Louis, Mav 
4, 1851, toss Si j,ooo,o:x). San Francisco, May 3-3, 
1851, 2,5rx) buildings; loss $3,5cx),oo<). Santiago, 
Spain, Dec. 8, 1863, 2,000 persons killed. Portland, 
-Me.. July 4, 1866; loss §13.000,000. Chicago, Oct. 8 
and q,. 1871, 1743 buildings destroyed; three and one- 
hall square miles of ruins; 200 persons killed; 98.300 
made h"'M'^l'-^- I'„.tt,,,T \.,, ,,-m i^~- ^'>'> biiild- 




I'rudeu, Photo. LADIES' AID, X(). 43, AIXIIJARY T(l THE SONS OF VETERANS CAMP, NO. m. 

Lower Row iright to lefti— Mrs. L. G. Morehouse, Chaplain; Mrs. Alice Johnson, Guide; Mrs. S. Relfe, 
Asst Guide- Mrs F. Coons, Outside Guard. Second Row; above— .Mrs. Rose Lotherington. Treas.; Mrs. 
Humphrey. Past Pre.^ident; .Mrs. P. Morehouse, President: Mrs. Jennie Timmerman, Vice-President; Mrs. 
Nellie C. Higgins. Secretary. Third Row above— Miss P. Kenned.^ : Miss Lizzie Murphy: Miss Jessie Hum- 
phrey, Inside Guard; Miss Laura Kennedy: Miss Maggie McGuire; -Miss Mary Kennedy. Top Row— Mrs. 
Cyntha A. Norton; Miss F. Larzelere; Mrs. Rose Myers: Mrs. James Crowley; Mrs. Frank MoGulre. 



under the darkest ignorance; and yet a bright and 
noble genius shines from in under these black clouds. 
None of the greatest Roman heroes have discovered 
a greater love to their country, or a greater contempt 
of death than these people, called barbarians, have 
done when liberty came in competition. Indeed. I 
think our Indians have outdone the Romans in this 
particular. If sent with any message, though it de- 
manded the greatest dispatch, or though they bring 
intelligence of anv imminent danger, they never tell 
it at their hrst approach, but sit down for a minute 
or two, at least, in silence to reflect before they speak, 
that they mav not show any degree of sftrprise or 



ings; loss .^73.000,000; 13 persons killed. St. John's 
N. B., June 21, 1876, loss 812,230,000. Brooklyn 
theater, Dec. 3, 1876; 300 lives lost. Seattle and 
Spokane, Wash., 188 1; loss S 10,000.000 each. 

Old School on the State Road.— .Mr. B. F. Beach 
thinks that the first schfcol house built in the town 
(if not in the county) was north of Seneca F'alls vil- 
lage on the State road. The first teacher was Miss 
Niincv Osman, adopted daughter of Moses March. 

First School. — In a log house, built on the shore 
of the mill race, June 16, 1801, was taught the first 
school in Seneca Falls, .\le.\ander Wilson being the 
teacher. 



76 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVFAIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Pocahontas Lodge, No. 21 1, F. & A. U., has 

lieeii in exislfiuo n\er fifty years. .\ petition to the 
Grand Lodge for the organization of the same was 
acted upon March 4, 1851; a warrant was issued dur- 
ing that month and the Lodge organized, its lirst 
three prim-ipal officers being John .Morse master, 
Lvman T. .Moore senior warden and David M. Coy 
junior warden. The Lodge soon became prosperous 
and numbered among its members men of influ?nce. 
manv of whom have long since passed away. 

The oldest living members of the Lodge to-day 
are: Horace C. Silsbv (1832), Hon. Ciilbert Wilco.xen, 
(US5I1I and Henry Stowell (1^*57!. 

Harmonv ijrevniled during the inter\ening years 
from its organization up to the time of the civil war, 
when nianv went out in defence of their flag and 
country. The Lmlufp rooms ucre lorrited at that 



Templars' Hall until .''.ne, 1870. The first meeting 
held under the warrant issued by the Grand Lodge 
was June 8, 1870. On June 14, 1870, the Lodge met 
in G. .\. R. Hall and continued to do so until March 
28, 1871, when it took possession of rooms fitted up 
in the .Mvnderse blocU. which had been rebuilt after 
the fire, and the members set to work with a wijl 
and furnished the same, and these surroundings were 
acceptable until 1900, when an effort was made by 
the Lodge to get its own building. A committee 
was appointed to obtain options and after e.varnining 
several sites and reporting upon the same, the Lodge 
purchased the Mason property on the east side of 
Cayuga street. 

The men who were foremost in this project l)ore 
the stamp of resolution and are to-day enjoying the 
satisf.iction that their labors are not in vain. The 
primp mo\ers did not complete but should have full 




Pruden. Photo. POCAHONTAS LODGE, NO. 211. F. \- A. M. 

Lower Row (left to right)— Samuel Kibbe.v, Secretary; E. L. M Guion, Sr. W.; W. S. McDonald. Master; 
Rev. W. B. riarke. Chaplain; George n. Davis, Treasurer. Middle Row— M. \V. Jacobv, Jr. M. C; H. DeLan- 
cey Knight, Organist; W. B. Harper, Trustee; T. W. Pollard, Trustee; W. P. Campbell, Sr. M. C. Top Row— 
E. J. Forbes, S. D.; John C. Davis, Trustee; F. P. OdeU, Tiler; J. F. Troutman, Jr. D. 



time on the third lloor of the Mynderse block on Fall 
street and the Lodge had about completed the fur- 
nishing of the same when it met a serious disaster. 

On January lO, i86g, at or near midnight, Myn- 
derse Block on Fall street was destroyed by fire, 
which was first discovered in the third story (sup- 
posed to be the work of irtcendiaries), and in the 
conflagration all the properties and fittings of the 
Lodge were destroyed and even the warrant by 
authority of which the Lodge had existence was lost. 
The brethren, undaunted by this blow, applied at 
once to Grand .Master James C'.ibson for a dispensa- 
tion to resume labor as a Lodge, which was granted 
Jan. 25, i86q. The first meeting after the fire was 
held in the Cuddebark Hall and afterwards in Good 



credit for the initial movement and they were met 
more than half way by the officers and members of 
iqoo and 1901. The funds for the purchase of the 
lot and the commencement of the erection of the 
building were raised by a popular loan among the 
members, represented by certificates at a low rate of 
interest. The cummittee on sites cfmsisting of Cieo. 
IS. Davis, C. .\. MacDonald and Thomas W. Pollard, 
after completing the purch.nse and removing the old 
building from tfie lot, gave the property in charge of 
a building committee composed of S. B. Hopkins. 
Fred Maier. jr., C. H. Williams, B. Frank Peck and 
H. M. Heady, who accepted, with some modifica- 
tions, the plans of Joseph Blaby, of Palmyra, \. Y., 
architect: and omtracts were let to Barlow & Wood- 



•CRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol- St.NECA lAl.LS. 



cork fur the mason work and to Jacob Freeso of 
Cavujja. X. Y., for tlie woodwork. 

On June 13, 1401, the corner-stone was laid with 
appropriate ceremonies by (irand Master Charles \V- 
Mead, of Aibanv, \. \'., assisted l->y his associate 
grand oHicers. This was, indeed, a great day for 
Masons in Seneca Falls. Lodges were present from .\ii- 
hurn. Cayuga. Waterloo, Ovid and Geneva and many 
other representatives from Lodges between Rochester 
and Svraciise, tieneva Commandery of Knights 
'IVniplar being also present as an escort to the 
Grand Lodge. The town was decorated for the 
occasion with flags and bunting and nature gloriouslv 
smiled upon Pocahontas Lodge on this, her jubilee. 

From this time the building grew in symmetrical 
fcirni and it now stands forth an o nament t" "tlir 
I'ifth .\venue" of Seneca 
I'alK — Cayuga street — 
.iiid a credit to the village- 
It is two and one-half 
stories high, with pressed 
brick front and is of \'er\- 
imposing appearance and 
design. The interi<)r is a 
model for those about to 
engage in a similar under- 
taking. It has a large 
basement with exxellent 
heating apparatus and on 
the ground floor is an 
assemblv hall capable of 
seating two hundred per- 
sons at tables, this room 
being used for dancing 
parties and public enter- 
tainments. .\djoining, are 
ante-rooms, cloak-rooms 
and toilet rooms. .\ small 
stage is built in the rear 
of the hall: and there is 
;i kitchen with apparatus 
for the accommodation of 
banqueting parties, a I 1 
fitted in modern style. On 
the second Hoor are the 
Lodge rooms, in which not 
only the Blue I,odge holds 
its meetings but they are 
also occupied bv Salem 
Town Chapter, 183, R. .\. 
M., and Sinceritv Chapter, 
O. 1-.. S.. the ladies of this 
branch having niateriall\ 
assisted the Lodge in 
furnishing the same witli 
an elegant carpet for the 
Li)dge rtjoni. 

Plans were subsequentlv made and the committees 
appointed for a Masonic fair and as evidence of the 
unity and good feeling existing among all branches 
of the order each and everv member helped to make 
it a success. v\hich it was in every sense cf the word; 
Salem Tcjwn Chapter donating largely to the same 
and the ladies of the* Eastern Star being untiring in 
their efforts. .\fter holding the fair for a week, it 
was closed, netting the Lodge about 85,500, a grand 
start towards the pavment of its indebtedness. 
Words would be whollv inadequate to express the 
credit due the W. M. and various committees for the 
success of the undertaking. The trustees set to work 
to complete the furnishing of the building and 
received several excellent donations of furniture for 
the Lodge. The building was formally dedicated, 
completely furnished, on Fridav. Oct. 24, moj. by 



the Grand Lodge officers as follows: .\I. W. Elbert 
Crand.-ill, Grand Master of the State of N'ew York: 
R.W. S, Xelsim Sawyer, Senior Grand Wardi'u: R.W. 
Charles Smith, Junior Grand Warden: \l. W. l.. L. 
.M. Elders: Grand Secretary: K. \V. Gr. irge W. White, 
Past Grand Treasurer: R. W. Jolni R. Gardner. 
Grand Marshall: R. \V, .\. W. Millebrand, Grand 
Sword Bearer: R. W. Wm. O. Campbell, Grand 
Sword Bearer; R. W. (ieorge Kent, Grand Steward: 
R. W. Lorenz Zeller, Cirand Director. 

The presence of the Grand Lodge ollicers for the 
second time and of the Grand Master for the third, 
during the erection and completion of this building, 
were honors more than ordinary to Pochontas Lodge 
and the presence among us of a .Mason of high stand- 
ini;, ;i ni-'mber of tliis Lori<. 



\\:\^ hern .1 mntter of 




Pru'len. Vhoto. 



MASO.MC TKMPJ.K. 

high mterest to those in authority. Wor. liro. James 
D. Pollard. Past Grand High Priest of the (irand 
Chapter, a life-long resident of this place, was well 
known throughout this state and was a man who 
took great interest in the fraternity and, singular to 
record, Bro. Pollarcl was suddenly remo\ed by death 
within ten days after this dedication at which he was 
present. 

A large number of brethren were present at the 
final ceremonies connected with this Masonic Temple 
and having given all the visitors present, including 
the grand ollicers, a royal welcome, a banquet was 
served and with toasts and speeches and entertain- 
ment in music and song the brethren felt that this 
splendid edifice had been well opened and dedicated 
to Masonry. The Lodge is now in the height of 
prosperitv. The rooms are attractive aiul pleasant 



ts 



■•(IRIPS" HISTORICAL SOIVFAIR OF SENF.CA FALLS. 



to meet in, which is indicated by the generally large 
attendance of its members and visiting brethren. In 
addition to the ordinary furniture in the Lodge mom 
is a pipe organ ant! in the assemblv room bel<i\\ is 
an elegant piano. .\t the head of the first flight of 



stairs a hne tablet has been erected, r 
of the event, on which is inscribed; 

Pocahontas Lodge, 211, V. iS: 
L'h.-crtered .\. I)., iS^i 
I. C. Davis. W. M. 
F. C. CiouUl, J. \V. 
S. Kibbev, Ser\ 
.1. A. Robertson, .1. 1 ) 
Fred Cory, .1. M. C 



inmiemorntne 



A. M. 



W 

w 

S. I',. 



Chas. C. Johnson. S. W. 
Cieo. IV Davis. 'I'reas. 
C I'.. Durham, S. 1). 
!■:. \Vm. .Medden. S. M. C. 
Kev. W. B. Clarke. Chap. 
H. Adk-inM.n. Mar. F. 1'. Odell. Tllfr. 

Trustees 
P.. H.irper. C. A. MacDonald, Tlios. W. Pollard. 
Huilding ConnnittHf 
H,,pkins, P.. F. Pec-k. F. Maier. .Ir. 

e'. II. \Villi;ims. 11. \1. Ilea.lv. 



It may be of interest to the members of the frater- 
nitv and others to note the officiary of the Lodge 
from its inception, a record of fifty years, not always 
obtainable in many institutions. I'p to the year 
1K70, immediatelv after the lire, we shall only rejire- 
sent the first three ollicers of the Lodge. 

The officers for the vear 1403, most of whom are 
represented in the illustration accompanving this 
article, are: W. M.. \Vm. S. MacDonald: S. W.. !■;. L. 
M. Guion: J W., Cady B. Durham; Treas.. Ceo. B. 
Davis; S-c. Samu-1 Kibbev; Chap.. Rev. \V. B. 
Clarke: S. D., Edward .1. Forbes: .1. D., |oel F. Trout- 
man: S. M. C . Wni. P. Campbell; |.'M. C, Mav- 
nard W. Jacoby: Mar., Frank C. Bebee: Org., H. 
Del.ancev Knight; Tiler, Frank P. Odell: 'Trustees. 
Win. B. Harper. J..hn C. Davis. Thos. \V. Pollard. 

The present membership of the Lodge is something 
oxer two hundred brethren. Regular communica- 
tions are held on the second and fourth Tuesd.iys of 
each month, commencing at 7"Ho p. m. 

"The following is the list of the 



CHIEF Et,E(TI\'E OFFICERS, POCAHONTAS LODGE, FOB OVER FIFTY YEARS: 



YEAR 


MASTER. 


SENIOR WARDE.N 


.IDNIOR WARDEN 






1851 


.John Morse, 


Lyman T. Moore, 


David M. Coy. 






1852 


•' 




" 


' 




1853 




Edwin J. Tyler. 


\V. A. Swaby. 






18.54 


Lyman T. Moore. 


Wm. A. Swaby. 


James Denison. 






1&55 


Edwin J. Tyler, 


James Denison, 


R. Seliuyler. 






18.56 


•' 


'• 


Wm. Gnnn, 






18.57 




Wm. Gunu. 


David M. Coy. 






1858 


Wtn. Guun, 


Luther F. Vt-tlie. 


Gilbert Wilcoxen, 






18.59 


Edwin Tyler. 


Natiian R;iker, 


Hiram H. Heath, 






1860 


Augustus Goflfe, 


Hiram H. Heath. 


Perry Stowell, 






1861 


'• 


•• 








186-' 


Hiram H. Heath, 


Gilbert Wilcoxen. 


" 






1863 


AuKustns Goffe, 


Perry Stowell, 


James H. Petty, 






1864 


Perry Stowell, 


James H. Petty, 


Chas. Rake, 






1865 


'■ 


James D. Pollard. 


John Lynn. 






1866 


James D. Polliird. 


Wm. Walker, 


S. B. Hopkins, 






1867 


" 




Edgar A. Brewer, 






1868 


Gilbert T. Tatt, 


W. F. Hnster, 


Wm. Allen, 






1869 


\Vm. Walker, 


•■ 


A. H. Kittell, 






1870 




S. H. Hopkins, 


J. F. Dalrymple, 






F'roni 


the year iHyo, a im 


ire complete record is 


obtainable and a list of the live elei 


tive officers is given 


YEAR 


MASTER 


S. W.\RDEN 


.7. WARDEN 


TREASURER 


SECRETARY 


isn 


G. Wilcoxen 


H. H. Heath 


T. C. Armitage 


Moses Rnmse.\ 


Thos. Kerr 


1873 


S. B. Hopkins 


J. R. Littlciohn 


B. F. VanCleef 




" 


187:3 


J. K. Litlle.iolin 


D. H. Gordon 


Geo. Reamer 




C. E. Wessell 


1874 


D. H. Gordon 


Chas Gould 




J. D Pollard 


'* 


1875 


Wra. Walker 


Geo. Reamer 


H.J. Purdy 




*' 


1876 


.I.D. Pollard 


J. R. Little John 


8. B. Hopkins 


D. H. Gordon 


*' 


1877 


H.J. Purdy 


P. H. VanAnken 


M. D. Sisson 


*' 




1878 


P. H. VanAnken 


C. W. Riesfel 




Geo. B. Davis 


W. T. Rwnyau 


1879 


Chas. W. Riegel 


M. D. Sisson 


Chas. T. Silsby 


■• 


" 


1880 


P. H. Van.\uken 


.1. C. Reamer 






** 


1881 




■' 






'* 


1883 


J. C. Reamer 


Chas. T. Silsby 


H. C, Kniekerbocke 




** 


1883 


Chas. T. Silsby 


H.C. Knickerbocker 


A. W. Worth 




'* 


1884 


•• 


A. W. Worth 


J. N. Hammond 


'• 


W. J. Pollard 


1885 


A. W. Worth 


Chas. Randolph 


Geo. M. Compson 


•• 




1886 




•> 


'• 




S. B. Hopkins 


1887 


" 


H.C.Knickerbocker 


Weed Barnum 


•• 


" 


1888 


H.C.Kniekerbocker M. D. Sisson 


James G.Armstrong: 




C. H. Williams 


1889 


J. G. Armstrong 


S. n. Hopkins 


Chas. Sanderson 


" 


G. M. Compson 


1890 


" 


Weed Barnum 


Geo. Ament 






1891 


■• 


Geo. Ament 


Win. 1!. Harper 






1893 


Geo. Ament 


Wm. B. Harper 


C. A. MacDonald 


c. H.Williams 


Samuel KHibey 


1893 


" 


r. A. MacDonald 


R. G. Miller 


" 




1894 


Wm. B. Harper 


" 


H. A. Cai-nier 


T. W. Pollard 


" 


1895 




■• 








1896 


C. A. MacDonald 


H. A. (^armer 


Chas. C. Johnson 


Geo. M. Compson 


■' 


1897 


•' 


Thos. W. Pollard 


Fred L. Story 


Geo. B. Davis 




1898 


Tlio.s. W. Pollard 


John C. Davis 


Wm M. Follett 




" 


1899 


" 




Chas. C. Johnson 




" 


1901 


John C. Davis 


Chas. C. Johnson 


W. S. MacDonald 


•• 


'• 


1901 




" 


E. G. Gould 




•• 


1903 




•• 


•• 


•• 


•■ 



•CRirS- HlSTOI^ICAl. SOUVENIR f)l' SKXF.CA FALLS. 



79 



Treaties involving Seneca Falls Lands; Contest 
over Lands of Cayuga Indians Between Specu- 
lators and the State: Indian Traders, and Mission- 
"The Ratification." 

V>v !■ red Teller i 
i lie lands upon which the village of Seneca Falls 
has been built were ceded to the State of New Yorl< 
by the Cayuga tribe of Indians. The lands included 
in the boundaries of the first, second and third wards 
were relinquished by the Cayugas in the treaty known 
as the State Treaty with the Cayugas of 1789. By 
this treaty they sold to the state the principal part 
of their lands, reserving only what was known as the 
ICast and West Cayuga reservations, respectively, on 
tl^e east and west shores of Cayuga lake, which res- 
ervations contained, "e.vclusive of the waters of the 
lake" practically one hundred square miles. It is an 
interesting story ending at the council fire which was 



I lie attendance of the Cayugas was not large or 
representative, owing to the violent opposition of 
the lessees. The lessees were two companies who 
had leased from the Si.v Nations practically all of 
their lands for the period of ggq years. The Indians 
were not allowed to sell their lands without the con- 
sent of the state. The humane policy of George 
Washington and the government "of the 13 fires" 
required the presence of L'nited States commissioners 
to safeguard the interests of their Indian wards, at all 
treaties held by them for the conveyance of their 
lands. To evade these precautions the lessees had 
"leased" the lands of the Indians for such a length of 
time that it practically constituted a sale. John 
Li\ingston was the most prominent figure in this 
movement which was for the purpose of erecting a 
new state west of the pre-emption line, which, how- 
ever, is not pertinent to this article. 

To properly understand the condition of affairs 
here at the time of this treaty it is necessary to go 



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^HBVHHp^^F . '^'^'^^^iB 


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I'ruiieu. Plioto. SI.\( EKITV (HAPTEU, EASTERN STAK. 

Mrs. Ida Kellnirfr, worth,\' matron, centre of middle row; Mrs. G. T. Pruden. associate matron, on Mrs. 
Kellojyjf's left, and .Sirs. .lolin Davis, treasurer, is on her right. Mrs. Or. .1. F. Oosby. coi'ductress. is ne.xt 
1(1 .Mrs Pruden and .Mrs. .lotin ('rowel 1. ass'iciaie conductress, is next to Mrs. Davis. Those sitting art^: Mrs. 
SV. P. Campbell, chaplain, in the center. Mrs. Moses Nearpass, marsho!, at her rij^ht and Mrs. Sahler, 
warder, at her left. Frank Udell, sentinel, with, next in order to him, Miss Bertha Munson, Ada, Miss 
Harrier Beebe. Electa. Mrs. John Anient. Martha, and Mrs. E. Cooney, Ruth, appear in the upper row. 



kindled in .Albany on the 14th day of February. 1789. 
1 he treaty was luially ratified on the twentv-lifth 
of the same month by, on the part of the state. 
vi/.:— His excellem y tltiv (ieorge Clinton, Lieut 
Ciov. Wan Cortland and Commissioners lizra LHom- 
medieu, .Abram Ten Broeck, John Hatborn, Samuel 
Jones, Peter tiansevoort, jr., and ligbert Benson. On 
the part of the Cayugas, the treatv states, "with 
several of the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the 
tribe or naticm of Indians called the Cayugas, for and 
on behalf of the said nation." On behalf of the 
Cayugas this treaty was signed by fourteen Indians 
and twelve governesses, a very small proportion of the 
liead men and women of the tribe. Most of the sig- 
natures are noted as having been signed bv Kanis- 
tagia whose mark was a steel trap. 



back a little and examine some e\'ents that occurred 
a few months previous. The late Ceorge Conover 
published a very interesting article covering these 
events, from which I quote, .\fter referring to the 
treaty which the two lessee companies had held with 
the Indians at Kanadesaga (beautiful waters, also 
the former name of Seneca lake) a prominent castle 
or town of the Seneca Indians located near the outlet 
i>f Seneca lake, he says: 

"It was finally determined to hold a council in 
September, 1788, at F'ort Schuyler, and a.gents and 
runners were sent out by the Xew York State com- 
missioners to induce the Indians to attend, tireat 
preparations were made for this embassy to the 
Indian country. The board of commissions and 
their retinue started from .Albany on the 23d and did 



.So 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OV SENECA FALLS. 



not arrive at Fort Schuyler until the 28th of August. 
A wild, romantic scene was soon presented. Gov. 
George Clinton pitched his marquee and was sur- 
rounded by many who had been conspicuous in the 
revolution, and were the leading men in the new 
state. They were surrounded by the camp fires of 
the numerous representatives of the Si.v Nations who 
numbered thousands. Indian traders were there 
from New York and Canada in large numbers with 
their showy goods, trinkets and firewater, ready for 
the sale of their goods [to the Indians] or the espousal 
of either the interest of the state or the lessees [whose 
interests lav in preventing the cession of the Indian 
lands to the state by the proposed treaty]. Promi- 
nent lessees from Albany, Hudson and Canada were 
in the crowd, secretly and insiduously endeavoring 
to thwart the object of the council. Learning that 
one of their principals, John Livingston, was present. 
Gov. Clinton ordered him to leave in three hours and 
retire to the distance of forty miles. Finding that 
the Cavugas and Senecas had held back, messengers 
were sent to Kanadesaga, who found Dr. Burton, a 
prominent lessee, and his agents surrounded by In- 
dians, dealing out liquors and goods and persuading 



York] was dispatched to these tribes to inform them 
what had been done and to prepare a way for a council. 
Seth Reed, who was living at Old Castle, and Peter 
Ryckerman, living upon the lake shore at Kana- 
desaga, both noted Indian traders, were engaged to 
aid in getting the attendance of the Indians to the 
council. Reed and Ryckerman responded and sent 
James Manning Reed to .Albany with a letter saying 
that they would be at Albany the latter part of Jan- 
uary with the Indians, and adding that the lessees 
kept the Indians 'so continually intoxicated with 
liquor that it is impossible to do anytliing with 
them.' It was not until February, 1789, that Ryck- 
erman was able to collect a sufficient number of 
Indians and to reach .Albany." Ryckerman was well 
repaid for this service as will be seen farther on. 

On the icjth the council was opened (as above 
stated) with the Cayugas, Senecas. Onondagas and 
Oneidas present. Good Peter, or Uominie Peter 
was the principal speaker for the Cayugas. Present 
at the council was a considerable number of 
their women, whom Good Peter called "governesses" 
and of whom he said, "our ancestors considered it a 
great transgression to reject the council of the 




Loaned by .lanvt Cowinj^. 



THE PAKTKIDGE ULOCK. 
(Site of the Old Arnett Mill), Burned July 30, 18M0. 



them [the Indians] that New York would either cheat 
them out of their lands 01 else put them to death. 
Many of them were undeceived and started on their 
journey, but so great had been the beastly intoxica- 
tiim, that but few went farther than Scaw-yase 
[Skoiyase], South Waterloo, being unable to proceed; 
but few reached the council, one Cayuga dying on 
the road. 

"On the 8th of September," continues Mr. Con- 
i)\'er"s account, "the cf)uncil was f)pened by a speech 
by Gov. Clinton and after a few days a treatv was 
concluded with the Onondagas whereby all of their 
lands were procured (for the State] except certain 
reservations. Negotiations with the Oneidas fol- 
lowed and after some days a like treaty was procured 
from them. The council had continued for twentv- 
live days. It now became important in order to 
secure the balance of the Indian lands to procure a 
treaty with the Cayugas and Senecas. Sanuiel Kirk- 
land [the earliest I'.ngiish protestant rnissionarv 
among tlie Six Nations in Central and W'eslcrn Ni-w 



women, particularly of the governesses. I hey con- 
sidered them the mistresses of the soil. They said: I 
Who bring us forth? Who cultivate our lands? Who 
kindle our fires? Who boil nur pots — but the womenSi 
Our women sav let not the tradition of the fathers 1 
with respect to women be disregarded; let them 
not be despised; God is their maker." .Six days of -I 
negotiations completed the objects of the council. 

The lands ceded reached west of the pre-emption 
line, or boundarv between this state and the "com^ 
mimwealth of Massachusetts" claims [See history or 
the pre-emption line on another page], and out of it 
IVter Rvckerman received a mile square at the Cay- 
uga ferrv and 16,000 acres of land west of Seneca 
lake for his services, less 320 acres reserved to a white 
person married to a daughter of a Cayuga named 
Thonowas. The Cayugas als 1 reserved the salt 
springs on the Seneca ri\'er and "the place in the 
Senec-i river at or near a place called .Skoyes (so 
spelled in the treaty) where the Cayugas have hereto- 
fore t.'iken eel, and a competent piece of land i>ii the 



"GRIP-S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Si 




OIU Photu. 

A\fBLlA JENKS ULOOMEK, 
(See sketch "Bloomers" piige 31.) 

Mnithern side nf said ii\pr at said pLace sulliri.-iit for 
llie said Ca> Lisas t<. land and encanip on and cure 
tlieir eeL" 

The n.iisidpratic.n givea to the Cavugas was $500 
|iaid d.nvn, •'^1,675 on the ist of .lune fcillowing, to be 
paid at l-'.irt Schuyler, and nn Jnne ist of every year 
thereaftpi, t.. lie paid at Fort Scliuvler .'jijoo in silver. 
When, on tlie following June,' the Indians came 
loiward to receive the payment of f 1,67^, the state 
took the precautions to render the treaty more secure 
by requiring the signatures of the more representa- 
tive sachems, warriors and chiefs of the Cayuga 
nation, by which they "fullv, freely and absolutely 
ratify and conhrm said treaty." The lending signa- 
ture obtained at this time is that "of the aged, 
venerated and widely known Cayuga chief Ojageght", 
commonly known as "Fish Carrier." I'or many 
years, by reason of his age and renown, he had been 
the headsman or leading sachem of the Cayuga tribe. 
Tlie ne.xt name signed to the treaty, or rather ratih- 
ration of the treaty, is the Seneca orator Shagoyegh- 
watlui, the well known "Red .lacket." Five names 
follow which "in the absence of the above" are 
signed by Fish Carrier. Then came eighteen Cay- 
uga signatures followed by Gov. Clinton and the 
cummissioners. It is sealed in the presence of Samuel 
Kirkland, missionary, Joseph Brant, the well known 
Ihayandenaga, the fighting chieftain of the Mo- 
h.iwks, and four Oneida chiefs. These represented 
the leading and influential men of the Si.\ Nations. 

Woman Suffrage lust Proclaimed at Seneca 

I'alls, the Home of the Leaders; Story of How 

Four of the World's Distinguished Women First 

Met; the Street Corner Introduction of Stanton 

and Anthony. 

Drums beat to quarter in the village of Seneca 

I'alls the revolutionary army that waged the great 

fight lor woman suffrage. In the old Wesleyan 

Methodist church which stood at the corner of Fall 

■•nid Mynderse streets, in this village on July 19, 1848, 

the first public convention sent forth the "declaration 

of independence," bearing to the world the names of 

Mrs. I.ucretia Mott and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. 

Here It was first by proclamation declared th.Tt 

\snnien have the right — or ought to ha\'e— to vote 

and hold oflice. 

I'redenck Douglass, seeking the emancipation (.f 
the blacks— man as well as woman — was present at 
this meeting, as were also many local celebrities. 



I'wo days of conferences and discussions, com- 
mittee sessions and reports gave birth to a "bill of 
women's grievances" and the declarati.m that she 
had the right and would become free. That w^as the 
nlea not Hi.- I.inguage. Fifty women and nearly as 
many men subscribed thereto and the proclamation 
was published in the newspapers of all languages in 
• ill parts of the world. Rut the president of that 
I omeiition and the chairman who reported the fate- 
lul d.irument were men, .lames .Mott and Henry B. 
Stanton, respectively— husbands of the distinguished 
lemale leaders of the convention. 

Susan B. .Anthony who became the .Moses of Israel 
[living at this writing Nov. 27, 1903] was not there. 
She came into the cause of freedom later, and we 
shall show, was recruited right here in Seneca Falls. 
Mrs. .Amelia Jenks Bloomer was in attendance at 
this convention, but only as a listener. She did not 
sign either resolution or declaration. She believed, 
but at that time she had other work in hand; and 
whereas women had already begun to acquire legal 
right to property she was satished to let well enough 
alone. How she came to take another step will also 
be shown. 

.\nsel Bascom, a practicing lawyer of Seneca Falls 
w^as crowned with glory in that convention. To him 
and David Dudley Field were given all of the credit 
lor the most important measures of emancipation 
w.iman had up to that time obtained. In the legis- 
lature of 1845 the shell was cracked. Married women 
for the first time had the right to hold property. 
Then came the constitutional convention of 1846 and 
the legislature of 1847 in both of which Mr. Bascom 
was a member and which had given the cause of 
woman greater speed. They had now a personality, 
the right to earn money and to be the guardian of 
their own children. .Ml hail to .\nsel Bascom, a 
Seneca I''alls man who had driven the entering 
wedge! The convention now demanded that the 
splitting wedge should be driven. That women 
should vote and hold office. 

it is curious to note that at this time Seneca Falls 
was in the throes of tour reform movements. Th • 
first now being described, the second, third and fourth 




Courtesy ot Siraeiise tterald. 

ELIZADETH CATtV STANTON. 



■•GRIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol' SENECA FALLS. 




Old Photo. ANSEL liASCKM. First Villagi- President. 
Oue of the earliest public men of Seneca Falls, who. 
with David Dudley Field, was largely instrumental in 
legislation giving women of New York stiite the right 
of ownership of property in their own name. 

were temperance, dress reform and anti -slavery. 
Mrs. Bloomer was then 1«i tiling for temperance, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Smith .Miller had already begun work fur 
dress reform |sep article on "Bloomers"] and Miss 
Susan r>. .\nthiiny was delivering sledge hammer 
blows for the emancipation of southern slaves. They 
were very soor. to be drawn into the great work of 
woman suffrage and right here in this village make 
the compact of union and perseverence. 

And this is the story of how the four distinguished 
women came together — for the first time in this vil- 
lage. It undoubtedly came about through Mrs. 
Bloomer. On Jan. i, ii'~!49, she issued the hrst num- 
ber of her monthly paper, "The Lilv." The only 
copy now known to be in existence is in the state 
library at .'\lbany. .\ local temperance society of 
women had conceived and named it. At the last 
moment they declined financial responsibilitv for the 
venture; and so Mrs. Bloomer went on with it, 
rather than to see it fail. "I could not so lightly 
throw off responsibility," Mrs. Bloomer said. "Our 
word had gone to the public and we had considerable 
money on subscription." 

"The Lily" of course attracted Mrs. Stanton's 
attention, .-^ woman's paper! "published by a com- 
mittee of ladies," the device at the head of its 
columns: a fiction kept there the first year, though it 
was .Mrs. Bloomer's paper — probably for the influence 
it would exert. Just what was needed — a paper for 
women. So thought Mrs. Stanton. She sought out 
the publisher, that summer of '41,, and found her in 
the post olhce. Mrs. Bloomer had that spring been 
made deputy by the post master, her husband. Mrs. 
Stanton introduced herself to the editor of "The 
Lily" and was gladly accepted as one of its volunteer 
contributors. Her pen fed its columns with many 
conlrihutions, at first largely on temperance, the 
writer concealing personal identity from the public 
under the signature "Sunflower." Next year, i8^o. 
-Mrs. Bloomer had placed her name at the head of the 
paper and avowed it the champion of woman's 
rights, also throwing into the scale for the cause her 
personal talents — eloquence on the platform and 
inHuence in every day life. 

"Till' Lily" for March. 1830, made clear the 
inmiediale cause for Mrs. Bloomer's open and active 
alliance with female suffrage. The Tennessee legis- 
lature had decided adversely woman's legal right of 
property. It was more than Mrs. B. could stand. It 
was accepted by her as an invitation to battle. So 
her gun thundered an editorial response: "We think 
it high time that women should open their eyes and 



look where they stand," she wrote. "It is quite time 
that their rights should be discussed, and that woman 
herself should enter the contest." Thus was "The 
Lily " consecrated to a divine purpose. This is a his- 
tor\' of woman suffrage onlv as it concerns Seneca 
falls. A complete anirmriti\'e history should copy 
all of that editori.-il. 

Susan B. .\nthony came to Seneca I'alls in the 
spring of 1S30 to attend an anti-slaverv convention 
conducted by Cieorge Thompscm and William I.lovd 
t'larrison, and was the guest of .Mrs. Bloomer. The 
two ladies were returning from one of the meetings 
w hen they stopped on a street corner to wait for Mrs 
Stanton. It was there and then that Mis. Staiit<iii and 
Miss .\ntliony were introduced. 

".Afterwards we called together at Mrs. Slanttms 
iKuise, " Mrs. Blorimer later wrote, "and the wav was 
o])pned for future intercourse between them. It w:is, 
as Mrs. Stanton says in her history, an eventful 
meeting that henceforth in a measure shaped their 
!i\"es. Neither would have done what she did with- 
out the other. Mrs. Stanton had the intellectual.and 
Susan the executive ability to carry lorward the 
lunement then recently inaugurated. Without the 
l)ush of Miss Anthony Mrs. Stanton would probably 
never have gone abroad into active life or achieved 
half she dime, and without the brains of Mrs. Stanton 
-Miss .Anthony would n^ ver have been so largely 
known to the world by name and deeds. They 
helped and strengtheneii each other and together 
they accomplished great things for woman and 
humanity." 

Elizabeth Smith Miller, the daughter of the great 
anti-sla\er\' agitator Cierritt Smith, coming to Seneca 
I'iills in 1851, was introduceil to Mrs. Bloomer by 
Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Miller's cousin. [See article on 
"Bloomers," page 29.] 

Mrs. Stanton was born at Johnstown, \. A'.. \o\ . 
IJ, 181 j. She was the daughter of Judge Daniel and 
Margaret Livingston Cady. On May 10. 1840, she 
married Henry B. Stanton. In 1847 they moved t" 
Seneca Falls and resided there sixteen years. 

Henry Seymour, in whose death on Aug. 3, 
187.S, our village li'st one of its oldest and most act- 
ive citizens, was born at St. .Albans, \'t., Jan. 10, 
1803. During his childhood, until he was tweutv 
years old, his home was in Skaneateles, Onoiid;ig;i 




Old Pboio. 



HENliy SEYMUIR. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol- SKN'ECA FAILS. 




PriKlin. Pluitii. 

MISS JANET McKAY COWING. 

Uefi-iMit of Sa-jjo-yi'-wiit-liii CbHjittM-. DiuiKhtiTs 
American Hevohitinn, 

omiity, spending a Ijrief period an a farm at Kair- 
lield, ()., and later as civil engineer in \'irginia. 
Then lie for a time occupied the position of tnrnkev 
at .\uburn priso i, and in 182S located at Seneca 
lallv, lirst engaging in the foundrv business, his 
partners being successively (jeorge H. .\lcClnrv, 
Hiram Cornell and his brother, lUisha Sevmour. In 
i.s40-'7 Henry Seymour and John P. Cowing engaged 
m manufacturing pumps: then for three or four vears 
Mr. Seymour continued it alone. In i8ji and for 
live ensuing years Henry and Elislia Sevmour manu- 
lactured trusses and supporters, and in l8j8-'ij Henrv 
was engaged ns a member of the lirm of Xewell I't 
Lci. at Jo. dan, in a large wheelbarrow nianufactorv. 
In i8'io he formed a co-partnership with H. C. Blod- 
gett in the dry goods business and in iSf>v 4 was 
interested in a tub and pail 
manufactory with iUisha Sev- 
mour at Toledo, <). Tlien in 
iS'i'ihe again went in'.o trade 
with J. C. Woodworth, dispos- 
ing of his interest in i87f>. 

It was Henry Seymour who 
planned and organized the Nat- 
ional Veast Co. of Seneca Ealls, 
of which he became president. 
I his hasty resume of his career 
;-l\iiws that he was active, untir- 
mg in business, seeking the 
best opportunities where he 
found them and that he did a 
great deal, both in a general 
way and as one of the original 
pump ,men, for Seneca f'alls. 
Mr. Seymour was of retired 
lialiits, reserved in intercourse 
■ uul always approachable, a 
liighly interesting man to meet. 
He was a member of the P.aptist 
church and always e.vemplilied 
.■1 christian spirit. 'Mr. Sevmour's 
benefactions were fre'q u e n t 



though unostentatious and quiet without a herald to 
proclaim them. Many families were m;ide to feel 
the light of his generosity of whom the world never 
knew: and when at last he died, on Aug. ;, 1878, his 
own. family were but a small part of" those who 
mourned his loss. His children, still living, are .Mrs. 
O. C Cliandierlain, Maria \'. .Seymour .mil Willis T. 
Sevmour of Seneca |-:ills, and \ir-. Sir:m (' KniL'hl 
of Troy, \. Y. 

SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA CHAPTER D A. R. 



Sa-go-ye-wat-ha Chapter, 1). .\. R., (Xo. 217), 
was organized Feb. jo, i8i)(>. Sa-go-ye-wat-ha fHe 
keeps them awake) the Indian name for Red Jacket, 
was a peculiarly appropriate name for this chapter 
because he was born on the banks of Cavuga lake 
about four miles from Seneca Falls, where a unique 
monument marks his birthplace, and he rendered 
\ aluable service to the country during the revolution. 
Chapter Day is .\pril 25. the annivers.arv of Wash- 
ington's presentation of the medal to Red |ack( t. 
Early in its history .Mr. John V. Cowing of Cleveland 
presented to the chapter a line picture of Red Jacket, 
appropriately framed. 

.\ charter was granted .\pril 8, 189(1, thechaits-r 
members being Elizabeth Cowing, Janet .McKa\' 
Cowing, Lillies Rumsey Sanford, Claribel Teller, 
Elizabeth Woodworth .Vddison, Harriet Weed Yaw- 
ger, Minnie Dunbar Huddleston Rogers, Phoebe Burt 
Usher, Sarah Grace Mott, FTorence M. Zacharie, 
Emma Carter Dickinson, Blanche R. Daniels. Xora 
Daniels and Stella F^lizabeth Burt. The officers 
elected at the first meeting were Mrs. .Sanford regent. 
Miss Elizabeth Cowing treasurer, Mrs. I^ickinson 
secretary and Mrs. liogers registrar. Mrs. Dickinson 
being unable to perform the duties of the office, soon 
resigned and .Miss Teller was elected secretarv. 
There was no change in these officers for sever;il 
years. .Miss Cowing, by the unanimous wish of tin- 
chapter has served as treasurer continnouslv since its 
organization. In iqoo Mrs. .\ddison was chosen 
regent serving until 1903, when Miss J. M. Cowing, 
the present regent, was chosen. The pii's;'nt mem- 
bership is hfty-five. 

In October, 1896, the chapter, on invitation, joined 
the State f-'ederation of Women's Clubs, but it having 




Prnden, Photo. 

FALL STltEKT. N 



OKTfl SIDE LOOKI.VG WEST, MIDIV.W OK STATE 
AND CAYUGA STREETS. 



■■GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 



been decided that the 15. A. R. is ii national and not 
a state organization, it soon thereafter withdrew. 

In June, 1901, we were honored with a visit from 
the state regent, Mrs. Ver Planck. Miss Seymour 
opened her handsome residence for a reception. 
Among the guests were Mrs. Little, Regent of Ironde- 
quoit Chapter, Rochester, the present state' regent; 
Miss Hopkins, regent of Seneca Chapter, Geneva; 
Mrs. Newman of Watkins and individual members 
from Owasco Chapter, Auburn, and .Seneca Chapter. 

On Jan. i, iqoi, the Chapter gave a Colonial Tea 
to their friends at the library building, formerly the 
residence of the late James H. Goukl. The rooms 
were warm and bright with color given b\ the 
.American Hags which were artistically draped, and 
manv quaint old woven coverlets of blue, red and 
green; some of them very ancient were loaned by 
different families who keep them as heir looms. The 



dence of one of its members, awaiting the time when 
either the Daughters or the library shall have a home 

of its own. 

The Chapter has been the recipient of many valu- 
able books from personal friends and from our 
member of assembly. 

In March, 1896, the Chapter used its intkipnce with 
other cliapters for an appropriation by Congress for 
printing the continental records. It has offered for 
several vears a prize of five dollars for the best essay 
written bv school children. It sends to Washington 
each year a stated amount toward the Ijuilding of 
Continental Hall. During the -Spanish-American 
war it did uianv things tending toward the coniforl 
of the soldiers, sending them clothing and liteniture 
and nionev to the N;itional war fund. In short, it 
contributes liberally to e\ery patriotic object brought 
to its attention. 

Under the fprovisiim of Chap 411, laws of iHqf), 
the Chapter has placed markers at the graves of 




Prudeu, Photo. V ILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

Lower R<iw (left to iii{ht)-,lcihn Kent, trustee; E. Guion, clerk: Ferd Isenman, president; C. Frank Ham- 
mond villajfe attorney; Fred Clark, trustee. Top Ro\v-\Vm. Ulrieh, Lewis C. btrong, Alvah btahl, W ill 
FruitiV, Wm. H. George and Charles A. Curtis, trustees. 

Uitionarv soldiers. It is its aim sometime 



art gallerv contained pictures of The Daughters and 
prominent citizens tal<en long ago, and the loan 
e.\hibit proved very interesting. The Daughters and 
some of the guests were attired in costumes of "ye 
olden time;" perhaps the oldest and most unique 
costume was a wedding gown made in iKoi and 
owned by one of the Daughters. 

The Chapter has always been specially interested 
in the welfare of the village library, and has done 
much to insure its success. While the library was in 
a building where there was room, it maintained a 
bookcase filled with m;my books on ancestral and 
gencaologiial subjects, valued to-day at five hundred 
dollars, and it is growing in Milunies and value 
every dav. When the library association moved to 
smaller rooms, the books, the picture of Red Jacket, 
the flag and other possessions w'ere taken to the resi- 



man\' rev< 

to erect a monument to these soldiers and to have 

tablet inscribed with their names. 

The following is a list, so far as they could he 
found, of the revolutionary soldiers, and towns to 
which thev belonged, and so far as possible towns or 
cemeteries in which tliey are buried: 

Covert 
Noah .lennings 

l''ayette 

Nathan Cook— ct)rporaI— d 
Fell 13 ISiM-lnirieil on his 
farm-X Y Mil 



George Fachraan 

.lohn Cowilry 

Nicholas Disingcr-buried 
Reformed church ceme- 
tery 

John Gambee-Ret ch eem 

PhilipLeddick— NY militia 

.Tames McClung— died IftW 
aged 9.-) years— Pa Mil 

James Scoby 



Philip Edington 
Wm Gil miter 
Henry Matthews 
Nathaniel Prall 
.lonatlian Rogers 
.Tohii Kuiusev 
JaeobWicks-Waterld 



"GRIPS' HIST(M^ICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 



Lodi 



Kfv Alnaliam Hiok:i\\-N 

.1 Mil 
John Kiiimons 
John Grtrrison-X V Cnrui- 

neiiial 



Nicholiis Giiilick-forp 
William Stiicj-Mass Linu 
Sylvaniis Travcrs 
Peter Van Zatidt 



Ovid 



Nathaniel Hallard 
rorneliu'^ Bodine 
Thomas Co\ ert 
Andrew Dunlap-Penn line 

-d May 2G 1851 
Siimuel Ferris-Seig't 
Nieholas Huff 
Kiehurii Huff 
Klijali Kmne. Senior 
Abraham Low 



Aliram Pf'ase 
TVnjaminScott-Serjr-Penn 

Mil 
Folkard Sebrinjr-N V Mil 
Peter Shi-rinan 
Peter Smith 
Joseph Stull-X V Mil 
\Villlam THy|(,r 
Abraham Vao Doren, Sen 
Ephraim Weed 



I\( iiiiulus 
Haynes liartIett-I>ratro<n,- (^apt Abel Frisbit-l'SNavy 



N J Conl 
Samuel Brasinyton-tt-am- 

ster 
David Depew-Serg--X J Mil 



DcjroreyProwtt-Drummer 
-McDuffytown-X Y line 
William Wilson 



David Dey-d July 27 1851 

Skillman Doujrhty 
John Gamhec, Sen 
Johnathan Pray 

W;itcrlo< 



Ool Varlck 

BastimuH Williams— Life 

Guard 
Robert Wilson 



Thomas Hak-h-r S Xavy 
John Chamlierlain 
John Greg^ory 
James Hull 

( )tliers \..l l.ociiled 



William Smith 

Nathan Teul-("<!nn Line 

Josiah Taylor 



Jacob Aekerly-N Y Line 
Henry Barnes "• 
William Barney 3d- Penn 

Line 
William Iteden-Corp-Conn 

Line 
Jonathan Belcher-MaBsL'n 
rhos Bellows-Cona Con'l 
Wm Bilson-Lee's Leg'n 
Joseph Bond " 
Abraham Brokaw-XYCon 'I 
Michael Buck-Mass Line 
Solomon Burlingamc-R I 

Line 



William Moulton — Lieut- 
Conn Line 
Barnabus Murray— Penn 

Line 
Jitlin XeaUMd Line 
Jehia Niles-Conn iJne 
EltenezerPierce-MassLine 
Joshua Savre-Ensiyn-N Y 

Con'l 
Zedckiah V Kandolph-N J 

Con'l 
Josiah Keeves 
James Rice-Serg-N J Line 
Thaddeus Russell-N J Mi 




Pruden, Photo. VILLAGE BOARD OF HEALTH. 

Lower Row (left to rig-ht)— Dr. J. Spencer Purdy, health officer: Harold Duff, 
president; James Alderman, secretary. Top Row (left to riirhtj— John Went/, 
and Charles Coons, commissioners; Fred Hock, registrar of vital statistics. 



Seneca Falls 



Crist opher Baldy-buriedat 

Bridgeport 
E/,ekiel Bebee— buried ai 

Old South 
Jabez Carter 
William Chat ham-buried 

at Bridgeport-d 1H54 age 

9H yrs 
Capt SamuelHarris-buried 

at Bridgeport 
John Harris— buried at 

Bridgeport 

Henry Brink-N Y Con'l 
Nathaniel Burehard 
Anthony Morgan 



at 



at 



Randell Hewitt-l>uric.l 

Metcalf 
Alfred Hozicr 
Needham Mayuard 
John Metcalf— buried 

Metcalf 
WmSacketf-SHrg-Reetvaie 

Cera-N Y Mil 
Lawrence VanCleef-Pros- 

p ct Hill Cem-N Y Line 
Gershom Vauderlyden- d 

March 39, 1640 



Asa Smith-d Nov 

Mass Line 
Richard Thomas 



n 1H41- 



\-arirk 



Samuel Corwin 
Amos Denton-buried 
Romulus-N Y Line 



John AV Prouty-Conn Mil 

Lewis Sharp 

Alex Steele-N J Mil 



John Caywood — N J Mil 
Samuel Clark :id-Serg " 
Danit'l Clark -Conn Litie 
Luke P Covert-Fe maj-N 

Y Mil 
Benj Crocker-Mass Line 
Nathaniel Cutler-Serg-X Y 

Con'l 
Sqr Davenport-Conn Line 
John Davenport 
Peter Day-Serg-N J Mil 
Matthew Dennieon— Bi»m- 

bardier 
John W Drwey-Cnan 
Moors Dinimirk-MussCon'l 
Jonathan Dolbee-U 1 Line 
Cornelius Duuham-NYMil 
John Featherly 
Benj Ford-Conn Line 
Joseph Hager 
Thomas Hale-Conn Line 
Joseph Hall-Penn Mil 



Emekiel Seott-Conn Lim- 
Ahnre Scbring 
Abrather Seekel-R 1 Line 
Matthias S'arght 
.lohn S''lfridge-N Y Line 
Jolin Sexton-Conn Liuf 
Williflm Shaff-Ma«P L ne 
Silas Slieiiard-X Y Lhi*^ 
Andrew Sniith-X J Mil 
William Stage-Pean Line 
John Sutton 
Ebenezer Thompson-Pcnn 

Line 
Philip Stout-Sergeant 
John Van Arsdale-NJLine 
John VanTuyl-X Y Mil 
Orra Vredenburgh— N Y 

Con'l 
Abram Vreeland-Fifer 
Jacob Ward-Conn Line 
Paul Wcllman 
Jacob Whiter^Mass Cine 



Su 



■■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVFATR OF SENECA FALLS. 




EI'GENE A. RITMSEY. 

Amos Wliipl(*\->Iass Liae 
Silas Wiiians-N V Lint- 
F.|iluaill White •• 
JaiiR'sWliii ham-Mass Linr 
Clark Wooden-Conn Mil 
Thos WooiiworTli " 
Simeon Wriji-ht 
Solomon Wright -Mass Line 



in "Camden's Brittanica " 
iioi to 1654. As early 



Borrowed Photos. 
JUHN A. Kr.MSEY. 

Stephen Hnlliert-I>rum- 

iner-<'onu Keg't 
Biiokley.lohnson-Mass I/n 
Jacob Koou-N Y Con'l 
.lohn Mandeville-I.ievit 
Beni Manniny: X J .Mil 
Paul McKinstr.v-< onnLine 
Timothy MeTntosh " 
.lohn M'cNally-Mass Line 

John A. Rumsey.— We read in tlie History ol 
Ivngland tliat Edgar .\theling, umle of Matilda of 
Scotland, sent her to the "Xunnery of Ruinsey." As 
Matilda's coronation tiiuk place in iioo it shows 
that the Rumsey family had a local habitation and 
.1 name previous to this date in England, hut how 
much earlier hits not yet been discovered. .\ branch 
oI the family lived in Wales in Ijj3 and one William 
Rumsey was a liarrister of such great ingenuity and 
knowledge that he was called the "picklock of the 
law." The name Romsie, Runisie and Rumsey, as it 
is variously spelled, is found in "Froisart's Chronicles 
of Events.' 132(1 to 1400,"' 
.ind in "Rymer's Foldera," 
.l^ ii.f.j Charles, I'ldward 
and William Rumsey emi- 
gi-ated from Wales and 
arrived at Charleston. S. C. 
At the time of Hacon's war 
with the Indians they re- 
moved to New '\'ork. where 
thev separated, Charle-. 
going to Cecil county, Md. 
Irom hi-, branch came Col. 
Cliarles Rumsey, a per- 
sonal friend oftlen. Wash- 
ington. Benjamin Rumsey, 
and James Rumsey who 
invented the liist steam- 
bo.it and whose name is 
recorded in the .lournal of 
Congress as "one of the 
benef.-icl irs of mankind." 
From ICdward and Wil- 
liam, who reniiined in 
Xew York, sprang the 
Connecticut branch and 
the Orange county, X. Y., 
families. 



John Rumsey, grandfather of the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Orange county. iT.i.i, and mar- 
ried Marv, daughter of Thom.-is Russell o[ .\e\\ burgh, 
N. ^", They came to Fayette in 1793. He bought 
lot \(i. jj. I'ontaining ')0() acres of land of William 
Thonipson. ( )ct. (•. ijqj. This tract was next to what 
is known as the .Swan farm on Seneca lake in the 
tow n of Fa\ette. They had a large family of clnhl m 
,ill of whom went west at an early day cMcpl \,i- 
tli.in. Nathan Rumsey married his owi, lousin. Ma v, 
il.iughter of Moses Rinnsey and Lydia Miller. Ilotli 
.lohn and Moses Unmsev were Revolutionary soldieis. 
|ohn .\. Rumsev was the son of Nathan and Mary 
Ruinsev. Fie was born in Fayette, Jan. 20, i.Hii). 
lie had onlv such limited educational advantages as 
were provided in the pioneer settlements of those 
(lavs, but he made the most of his time. He remaineil 
on the fariii until he was twenty-one years old and 
earned enough money to go out into the world. 
Then he went to Ohio to sell pumps for a Mr. Kelly, 
w here he staved a year; and to further increase his 
prolits he returned with his wagon load'd with 
tiniothv seed which he sold to the farmers. In the 
following year he applied to Cowing it Seymour h>r 
:\ position and was fortunate in being able to give 
them a most laudatory letter from the family physi- 
cian and friend. Dr. Oakley. In after years when Dr. 
Oakley came from the East to visit Mr. Rumsey. he 
would tell with pride how he had early predicted for 
.\lr. Rumsey an honorable cai'eer. Cowing I've Sey- 
mour engaged Mr. Rumsev as salesman and collector. 
.\t the end of two years, in i><44. he made an 
arrangement with Cowing & Seymour to sell pumps 
on Commission in the Xew ICngland st.ites, canvass- 
ing the territory fnni Springfield .Mass., to liangoi 
.Me. He was thus engaged for nearly hve years, 
residing in Springheld and Haverhill, Mass, and Do . 
ver, X. H. At first he canvassed perscmally, then with 
a few teams and agents; but during the last year he 
had twenty-four teams and agents on the road anil 
made inoiiey both for himself and the coinp,iii\ 
The agents would report in person at Mr. Rumsev s 
lieadquarters once a month or six weeks, according 
to the territory they had to cover. The latter part of 
1843 he returned, and Jan. i, 1846, married Miss.\iiiia 
Freeland, daughter of Peter Freeland and .\nua 
Deinarest, of Fayette. N. Y. They started at once for 
.Massachusetts, driving there. I'ollowing the turn- 
pike to .\lbanv thev crossed the Hudson river at 




Borrowed Cut. RESIDENCE OK THE LATE .JnH.V A. UUMSEY. 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



87 




Old Photo. THE OLD BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Crieenbush mi a ferrv and then went to Pittsiield, 
Mass. .\t tliib time Mr. Rumsey tnnk three agents 
and three teams of horses with him. He was very 
surccssfiil in business and invested his surplus in the 
stock cif a Boston bank. In 1849 he returned to 
Seneca Falls, when a re-organization of the lirm 
took jilace and he became a member of the firm of 
Cowing i'^ Cii., with .lohn P. Cowing and Henry W. 
Sevmour. The company had been manufacturing 
pumps under what was known as the Miner patent. 
The inventory of the machinery, goods, etc., put in 
liv Cowing & Seymour showed less than 810,000. 
Nir. Rumsev put in 85,000, the amount he had made, 
over and above expenses, while selling on commission 
in the Fast. Fifteen thousand dollars made up the 
capital stock of the company. In i860 Mr. Seymour 
sold his interest to Philo and George Cowing, and 
in iH(i4 Mr. Rumsey retired Irom this firm and organ- 
ized the firm of Rumsey & Co., having as partners 
his b.other, Moses fiumsey, and Warren J. Chatham, 
each of whom had a one-iifth interest. 

The erection of new works and the building up of 
a new business was something of an undertaking but 
it was accomplished through the foresight, the in- 
domitable will and energy of John A. Rumsev. .\ 
small brick building and a fair sized furnace was the 
arena of the first year's e.xperience. The trade of the 
young companv was phenomenal and where once 
stood the little shop and furnace soon were reared 
large buildings. When the company took possession 
of the site in 1864 the buildmgs could accommodate 
less than fifty workmen. .Mr. Chatham retired in 
1874. In 1876 the company was re-organized as 
Rumsev cS: Co.. Limited, being one of the first in 
.\ew York state to take advantage of the "limited " 
law, with a capital stock of 8 100,000 all paid in. 
Moses Rumsev retired in 1878 and from this time 
until his death .lohn .-\. Rumsey was sole owner. The 
success of the company, its rapid increase in build 
ings, quantity and qualitv of goods manufactured, its 
enviable reputation the world over, was the work of 
this one man's brain guiding the hands of skill which 
were ever so loyal to him. Between Mr. Rumsey 
and his employees there was unusualh" good feeling. 
He knew his men personallv and had an interest in 
the prosperity of the workman and his family. He 
had an intuitive sense of right which enabled him to 



draw an even line. His men held him in high esteem 
and there are many vet living who speak with pride 
of the number of years they worked for him, and 
had always received justice. Under his quick speecli 
they knew there was a tender heart. He h.id strong 
convictions that every man should own .1 homi' 
.and that the house should stand in llu wife's 
name; and to encourage this idea and build up the 
tiiun he, in 1857, bought a tract of land from Dr. 
Heath, laid it out in lots, built twelve to fifteen 
houses and sold them to his employees and others 
who wanted a home, on easy terins. In some casis 
he advanced money to men who wished to build, and 
in a short time Rumsevville was an established fact, 
the families of David Ward, John McBride. Richard 
Golder, Edward Short, John Bowers. \Vm. I'rutig, 
John Suter, John Gilmore, Patrick Ward and Mrs. 
Sophia Walters having homes there. He built the 
first school house in Rumsevville. Mr. Rumsey was 
a great lo\er of trees. He remembered with pleasure 
the streets of New England villages where the foliage 
formed an arch over the roadway. He wished the 
same state of affairs to e.vist in Senrca Falls and 
offered a prize of money each year to the person who 
planted the most trees. Mr. Rumsey was essentially 
a business man. His ambition was to found a busi- 
ness of such magnitude that it would reflect credit 
upem himself and commemorate his name: and 
who will not sav "he budded better than he knew, " 
for have we not with us the fruit of his labors in the 
success of Rumsey & Co., Ltd.? It still runs in the 
full tide of prosperity under the skillful management 
of Mr. Henry R. Micks, (son-in-law of Mr. Rumsey,) 
w'ho is pr-sident and manager of the company. .Mr. 
Rumsey was a man of generous impulses, true to his 
friends, kind and just in his judgment of men. He 
was abo\e petty jealousies and alwa\"s expressed 
pleasure when he learned of the success of his quon- 
dam employees. He never selfisfily field a man back 
from taking something better outside because he was 
of value to him, but encouraged them as he did his 
cousins, Messrs. Lewis Miller and .Moses Rumsey,who 
became two of St Louis' millionaires. He had a 
frank, cordial manner. His hearty greeting, his total 
freedom from cant and alTectation were an open 
sesame to everv circle. Honesty of purpose marked 
his whole life. His reputation was due to his 




Old Photo. THE OLD METHODIST CHLKCH. 
(Stood OQ the Site of the Present Edifice.) 



88 



-GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




Pruden, Photo. 



DK. D. I). BLACK HI' KX. 



straiglufiirward ploddini; indiistrv. uns\\ei\ iiif; iii- 
legrity and good will to all. 

He was a director of the National E.vchange Bank 
from its organization and also of the Exchange 
National Bank. .\t the time the bank was founded 
he was strongly irged l)\ Mr. .' B. .lohnsou to give 
up manufacturing and enter banking with him ashi-- 
luture work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rumsev liad si.\ children: I'^ugene .\. 
Runisey: Mariella (Mrs. Henry Luther Whitman of 
St. Louis, .\Io 1; l.illies (Mrs. Lecmard Ciibbs San- 
ford): Howard Dei'orest: .\riana (Mrs. Henry Rath- 
bone Micks): lUizabeth Cowing (MrV. .\ndrew Ci. 
.Mercer). Like a bright star Mr. Ramsey's home ble 
shime above all other viitues. I'riend and stranger 
were ever welcome, the latch string was always nut. 
He loved his home. His devotion to his family and 
his domestic virtues were an open book. Indulgent 
to a fault he gave his children every advantage they 
were willing to grasp and responded generously to 
an expressed wish. To his family his rnemory is an 
inspiration. He died in the early morning of Nlenior- 
ial Dav. May ;o, 1888. He was so closely identified 
with the history of Seneca Falls and its progress for 
forty years that his name will 
linger many years in the memory 
of man with happy recollection. 

Eugene A Rumsey, mui oI 

.loI:ii A. .m.l Ann. I iTcrlanil 
Uumspy, was born at South 
Brooklield, Mass., Oct. 11, i^^i'. 
On his mother's side his ancestors 
came from Holland and France 
and were men who held honora- 
ble positions in Manhattan in 
the old colonial davs. Thev 
embrace the names of Michael 
\'reelandt, Jan Strycker, Jean Des 
Marest, Simon De Ruine, Jan 
Haringh, Simon .lacobse \'an 
Winkle, Jan Romeyn, Jan Cor- 
nelise Bougnert, Joost de Baene, 
etc. Mr. Rumsey attended the 
Seneca Falls .\cademy. iJvvight 
School at Clinton, N. Y., and 
Oberlin College. He was, it might 
be said, born and bred in the 
pump business of wl ich his father 



was one of the founders. He represented the lirni in 
diflerent parts of the country as traveling agent, .iiul 
was vice president of Rumsey & Co., l.'t'd. During 
till' I losing years of the li'e of his father, who was hal- 
lling with an insidious disease, the mantle of busi- 
ness was sulistantiallv put on his shoulders. I'poii 
the diatli of John .\. Rumsev, in i8-*8, he became 
presidenl and manager, and it was a cause lor con- 
gratulation to the army of workers and extended 
business interests that the works would continue 
without interruption. He resigned and retiied from 
the business in 189:1. 

.Mr. Rumsev's diversion was politiis. He became 
.1 leading spirit in town and county meetings. He 
was a r)emocrat. He represented his ward in the 
board of trustees, was president of the 'village and a 
member of the board of education, the duties of 
which offices he discharged with energy, intelligence 
and discretion. In all departments or counsel his 
judgment was excellent, as in all obligations of ser- 
vice his time, work and resources could be conlidently 
commanded. He was direct and outsixiken, soir.e- 
times almost to the point of brusqueness, but he was 
a man to whom one could appeal in an eme'gencv, 
and his sympathetic nature and kindly 
him manv warm personal friends 
Falls was more generally 
active or conspicuous part 
generou 



ways made 
No man in Seneca 
known or bore a more 
in local affairs. He was 
to a fault and his kind deeds will be long 
remembered. Mr. Runisey died .\ug. 17, l8q(i. He 
was married twice. His children are l.uella Rumsey, 
|c)liii A. Riimse\ and HcnMird l'i:iriiLiin Runisey. 



Blackburn, the O.^teopath, is the 
,h 111. "1 tli:it profession in Seneca 
that hereabouts was a held in 
was not being practiced, lie oli- 
location for residence andoHice :it 
street, and licat'd tliere in Sep- 
(ioclor c;imc with an experience 
11 his ihoseu prolessio:i that \ery soon 
nil lli:it sucii'ss in Ivs treatment of 
ime known throughout the conmiuii- 
itv and the result was that he secured a much better 
business than he had reason to expect in so sliort a 
lime. He had the advantage of not only a thorough 
course in the study of osteopathy but in the assoei- 



D. O. 

in ifie pi 

1' inding 

osteopatin 

a favorable 

ill 

I'll. 



Dr. 

pit 'lire 

l-'alls. 

which 

tained 

No. 20 1 West F 

leinber, njo;. 

:ind education 1 

obtained for 1: 

c;ists which bet 




Pruden, Photo. 

MYNDERSE STRRET, WEST SIDE LOOKING 
FALL STREET. 



NORTH FKO.M NEAR 



"GRIP'S- HISTORICAL SorVF.NIK OF SFNKCA FALLS. 



Si, 




Pr-uden. Phut* 



WALDDKF. 



.■iticm ill [iractke with experienced osteopathb. lie- 
■■ides, lie liris the further nclvantage of havins; a 
\ alued as^;i^tallt ill his wile w Iki is alile to jiroperlv 
ami srieiitilirally treat feiiial:' patients. Dr. Black- 
hurii is also educated in eleetrnpathv, whii h he is 
[iraeticiufi with good results. He was at one time 
the vice president of the New '^'nrk .Sclinol nf FJec- 
trnpathv. fn.ni which he was graduated, and is also 
a graduate I.I the Xew York School nf Osteopathv. 
I he doctor is a native I'ennsyKanian, but was edu- 
cated at Wa\erly, X. V., where he resided many 
vears. He and his wife have made many friends iii 
Seneca Falls and obtained high recognition in the 
[irofpssion. 

Dr. H. S. Waldorf is a nativ,' ,,f Wolcolt, 
\. 'I ., where he received his early education, graduat- 
ing from Leaven.worth Institute of that place. .Mter 
one year's experience in teaching school his study 
was resumed at Cazenovia Seminary. Having coiii- 
I'leted his course at Cazenovia, teaching was resumed 
lor a few ye.ars. He then took a course in dentistrv 
at the I'niversity of Buffalo, after the completion of 
which he was takeh in partnership with an estab- 
lished practitioner of his jirofession in his native 
town. In the early part of i(;)oi he located in Seneca 
I' alls lining up dental parlors in the Failing BIocl< 
over Waller's hardware store where he has since con- 
ducted his practice. He is identilied with the M. ]:. 
church and is a member of the M.isonic order and 
the Kiiighls of I\ iliias. 

Early Banking. — Frastus Partridge in 184^^ 
ojiened a jirn.ite bank, the lirst in Seneca Falls. In 
January, 1^54, he established the Bank of Seneca 
I alls, capital f?jo,ooo, and in 1858 erected the Part- 
ridge building which was alterwards burned. The 
Partridge bank was reorganized as the First National 
Bank of Seneca Falls, capital §50,000, Sept. 14, 1863, 
and was discontinued Feb. 7, 1881. 

Mechanic's Hall was erected in 1816 by G. V. 
Sacket, L. F. Stevens, Abijah Mann and Col. Myn- 
derse. The building burned down Dec. 14, 1859. In 
1816 there were 27 frame buildings in Seneca Falls. 



The Shakespeare Society of Seneca Falls was 

loundcd in I ic. i mli, 1. iN;j_ iis primary object being 
the study of Sh.ikespeare and the drama. During 
the 21 years of its existence all the plavs of Sh.akes- 
peare hav(- been read .ind siu lied several times and 
by various methods, lor a few years questions on 
the plays were proposed and discussed: then topics 
in connection with the plays, such as Tradition .and 
Idlk-I.ore, Clafsxal and .Mythical, AIIumoiis, His- 
torical References, etc., were assigned, and papers not 
to exceed live minutes were prepared by members. 
.\gain, one long paper was furnished after the plav 
was read, followed by discussion. 

Though so much has been written, there is always 
"one more new word" to say about Shakespeare, and 
papers have been read before the socaety, which 
proved to be new criticism and original in ccinception. 
Some of these appe;ired in Shakesperiana Magazine, 
and many others are worthy of a perm.-ment place in 
Shakesperiana. 

During the first fourteen years the sludv w.is de- 
voted entirely to Shakespeare'. Since then some time 
has been given to Book Reviews, Current IC vents or 
some new voice of to-dav. 

The meetings were helcii weekly from Oct. i to .May 
I, for seventeen years, when they became fortnightly. 
This change was made on account of the increased 
number of clubs in town. 

The membership is liuiiled to tliiils-luc active 
menibers. The Society lias had prai lic.i'lly lUr same 
ollicers since its org.iin/ation: .Mrs. Silsbv president, 
and .Mrs. Lester, .'\Irs. Randell. Mrs. I.a'throp, .Miss 
Henion.Miss Root and Miss l.orniore who have served 
as lirst and second vice presidents, c-orresiionding 
and recording secretaries and treasurer. 

The Shakespeare Society of Seneca Falls is the 
oldest Shakespeare Club in the United States, com- 
posed exclusively of women. It joined the Xew '\'ork 
State Federation of Women's Clubs in Xoveniber, 
181)4, as c-harter member. 

Though it turns aside occasioiiallv to other sub- 
jects — the; study of Shakespeare stimulates the mind, 
broadens and uplifts it and inspires an interest in all 
vital c]uestions -to the greatest study of all it always 
returns with renewed enthusiasm. .Xnd so, after 
twenty-one years of Shakespeare study, the society 
still commends it to other clubs as an inexhaustable 
theme, and one to hold the interest. 




Piiiden, PI o.t>. 

MRS. .\1. R .SII.SHY. 
President uf tbe Sliakespewre .SuetMty. 



go 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOI'VENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




Uie omploy of Adams & Hoag, recti fu- rs nI whiskey, 
one of the firm being his brother, Delavan Huag. At 
the f-xpiratinn (if tliree years Miltiin Huafj bcni.tjlit 
nut the firm and for twelve years carried on the busi- 
ness, in which he met with financial success. Milton 
Hoas; soon became the most widely known nitilicr 
of whiskey in this section of the state, .\inont; his 
customers were larfje gnxery houses in the chief til- 
lages and cities for miles around and he deli\(red 
considerable quantities to customers by means of 



Pruden. Photo. 



MILTON HIIAG 



Milton Hoag.— Much of the history of Seneca 
Falls is interwoven with that of Milton Hoag, the 
president of the ICxchange National Bank, at one 
time the owner of a great deal of real estate in Sen- 
eca Falls and one of the men who during his time 
has done very much in building up the village. .Mr. 
Hoag, the son of John ,1. and Sarah Combs Hoag, 
who were prominent residents of Montgomery 
countv, K. Y.. was born at Matt Creek, town of Root, 
Montgomerv county, July iq, 18^0. It was at Pala- 
tine Bridge, town of Palatine, in tliat county, that 
his father, after a busy life, and his mother both 
died. .\t si.xteen years of age, after the training in 
farm life that boys of those days received, Milton 
Hoag learned the tiade of butcher, which he followed 
for three years, when he embarked in the grocery 
business at Spraker's Basin near Canajofiarie. In 
February, i«3i, he came to Seneca Falls and entered 



wagons sent across the country north and south. 
Those were the davs when whiskey of the stamp he 
rectified was regarded as a household necessity and 
it was sold bv him to such large concerns as the 
Crouses of Syracuse, to whom he shipped many bar- 
rels annually. It is the fact, neither common nor 
uncommon among men engaged in producingardent 
spirits, that Mr. Hoag never tasted a drop of liquor or 
spirits in any form nor used tobacco, .\lthoiigh he 
loved horse racing and was a patron of that sport he 
never bought a pool in his life. 

Mr. Hoag was one of the original stockholders and 
fiiunders of the National Exchange Bank of Seneca 
Falls, and it was during the palmy days of that 
institution that he largely increased his holdings 
until at one time he held nearly one-third of its cap- 
ital stcjck. When that _bank was succeeded by the 
present Exchange National Bank. Mr. Hoag bec;uiie 
one of its stock holders. He is now its president and 
has been for the past seven years. 

It was in 1866 that he sold out his business as a 
rectifier to Charles A. Parscms who was at the time 
the cashier of the National Exchange (old) Bank. 
Then began that active life of real estate transacticnis 
which has identified him so closely with Seneca 
i'alls. Buying, remodeling and improving business 
blocks he in ye;irs that followed carried out plans 
that gave the village a considerable impetus in 
growth and resulted in his investment of thousands 
of dollars; all ot which proved profitable until the 
big fire of 1890 which swe[it away a large portion of 
the business section of Seneca Falls and in which .Mr. 
Hoag lost oyer $53,000, over and above all insurance. 

.\t the time he sold out to Mr. Parsons — the same 




Piu'len, Photo. 



Mri.TON HOAG'S:RE8inENCE. 



"GRIPS" FilSTORICAI. SOUVF.NIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



91 



vi-:ir -Mr. Homj; purchased C";irr's hntel, cnrner of 
ImII ,111(1 Stale '.trc-cls, and s|irnl a lart;i" sum dl 
ui'iiir\ III s^reatly iiii|iniviit>; tin hiiilding. It was 
|.iac tuallv the beginnint; nl thr I liiaf; House, tlie 
will known hostel r\ uhkh hassiiue liorne that name. 
Alioiit the tune h(< acquired th<' hotel he bought 
Inion hall and the Cuddebac 1; I'ts. I'rlov to these 
MMi'.nres, however — in T'^''.5 - he bou};lit the King 
honiesteail, \o. ji Cayuga street, which has from 
that time t > the present been bis home. On the site 
of the King house he linally began the srection of a 
palatial residence which was completed in 1890, and 
lias since furnished the famih' a spaiaous and l)e;iuti- 
fullv furnished home. 

In 1H82 Mr. Hoag fiurchased the Springhrook farm, 
a highly 1 ultivated and well equipped place two 
miles north of the \ill,-ige where for some \ears 
he engaged in breeding and training trotting horses. 
He was led into it by the desire to engage in a con- 
genial iiccupation. Under his personal direction tm 
this farm was bred and trained the best stock for 
speed and equine beauty. In 1899 he bought the 
adjacent property, the Metcalf place, and combined 
the tw'o, afterwards breeding horses on a larger scale. 
His stock hnally obtained considerable prominence. 
.\niong the laest known bred by Mr. Hoag was 
Ri>seolo. the great prize winner at .Madison Square 
(inrden, X. Y.. in 1900, which at that time carried 
off several prizes and was the winner of the grand 
prize in c<impetition with the other prize winners 
at that horse show. 

On F'eb. 12, 1901, Mr. Ho.ig sold the farm antl 
retired from horse breeding but he has never become 
the less a lo\'er of high grade horses. 

In 1883 he purchased Maurer's interest in Maurer 
iS; Carpenter's drug store and four years later bought 
out Carpenter. 'I his business he carried on until it 
was burned out, but never resumed it. In 1886 he 
purchased the two stores on the south side of Fall 
street, known as the King block and the store adja- 
cent thereto. .\ few days later he bought the Daniels 
Opera House block em the north side of Fall street 
which he reconstructed and remodelled at a large 
expenditure of money, making it bv all odds the 
prettiest and best opera house of its time between 
Syracuse and Rochester. In 1877 Mr. Hoag took 
personal charge of his hotel, the Hoag House, and 
conducted it until it was burned in the hre of 1890. 
This conrtagration' also swept away pretty much all 
of his other business properties, including the opera 
house and drug store, and unfortunately for the vil- 
lage cut off his resources and revenues to the e.xtent 
that permanentiv checked his activity in real estate 
ventures. Rut lie has now reached that age in which 
speculations are no longer practicable, although he 
is never entirely out of active transactions, still hav- 
ing his eyes on the main chance. 

Mr. Hoag, who is an enthusiastic sportsman and a 
crack shot both in trap and field shooting, was the 
pioneer of trap shooting in this state. He' partici- 
pated in the Xew York state sportsmen's annual 
conventions twelve consecutive years and won many 
prizes for his m.-irksmanship. I'ut his favorite sport 
was with his gun and dogs. The latter, "I.ou" and 
"I'rank," were well known and much admired iiinong 
liis sporting fri :nds throughout the state. 

Mr. Hoag, a democrat, has given little or no 
• ittention to politics. He was wedded to Miss Rose 
A. linnegan and they have two daughters, Irene IC, 
who has attended the Manhattan School in New 
^iirk, and Ijhel M., a graduate of Yates Castle Clas- 
sical schoi>l .if Syracuse. 

Early Flour Mills - [By .Mrs. L. R. Sanford]— 
The fi.iy.ird Co. built the i'lrst red Hour mill on the 
site of the present Chamberlain mills in '1798. In 
1807 it erected the red mill wliere the Rumscy & Co. 



power house now stands. These two mills gave to 
tile settlement the name, .Myndeise Red Mills. In 
the division of property made by the members of the 
liayard Co., 111 1825, the first red mill fell to the lot 
of .Anthony, Charles and Samuel Dey. In 1830 it 
becauK^ the property of Jacob I', Chamberlain. 'I'he 
lower Red Mill was owneil from 1830 to 1.8.13 bv 
W'illi.ini .iiul Samuel Bayard who were residents of 
the village. They sold to Tower (S; Coinpanv who 
( anie from Lyons, Later Mr. Chamberlain bouglit 
anil operated tin- mill, and it was linalK sold for a 
distillery in which several were interested. 

In 1823 a llouring mill was built by .\brani <S: 
Samuel Payne called the Clinton Mills. This mill 
was ii wooden structure and stood next to the Citv 
.Mill or what is now known as the National .\dver- 
tising Company. Lewis B. Howell, father of Mrs. 
Cornelius Hood alterwards owned the mill. 

The largest .•nid most prosperous mill, in the 
estimation of some of the oUl inh.-ibitants was the 
Stone Mill at the foot of State street where the Part- 
ridge block now stands. 'Fhe land was bought in 
1831 for $9,000 by lileazer Hill of \'incent Matliews, 
guardian for the children of Josiah H. Bissell, Jr. 
The mill was erected in 1833. The Stone Mill was a 
verv substantial building the construction work 
being done by the grandfatlier of \V. .\. S. I.ath;iin 
and Mrs. Iinogene Onion, who came from Connecti- 
cut. Mr. Hills, the grandfather of >Irs. \V. .\. S. 
Latham lost a large fortune in the Stone Mill. It 
had a capacity of 300 barrels of flour a dav. Hill, 
sold one half interest in the property in i83() to John 
Sheather for 822,000, later he foreclosed the mort- 
gage on it and formed a partnership with Peter 
Robinson which was dissolved in 1840. It then 
became the projierty of Cary & Downs who were 
Albany and New York men. William' .\rnett was 
their agent until 1834 when he purchased the mill. 
In i8f)3 it was bought by -\lbert Jewett. 

Fhe City Mill was built in 1837 by John F itch, the 
father of Mrs. Philo Cowing. It is still a massive 
building, showing little, if any, of the ravages of 
time. Its history is not an open book, but at one 
time it was under the management of John Shoe- 
maker and John Holmes, w'ho put the mills in suc- 
cessful operation, turning out 400 liarrels of Hour a 
dav. George B. Daniels was at one time a partner. 

Fhe land between the river and canal running 
from the present mill of Roberts & Briggs to the end 
of the factories of Gleason & Bailey has ever been a 
busy spot eiwing Ut its water facilities, and on the 
hrst lot beyond Roberts & Briggs was built' in 1833 
the Globe Mills whii h were run until 1833 by John 
Fitch and Ansel Basconi. In 183'! they sold the 
mills to Richard .M. Bailev and Hemv Woolsev, who 
mortgaged the propertv for §10,000, which was Later 
foreclosed by the Seneca County Bank. J'hi- mills 
were then bought and run by Walter Oatman. 

'Fhe ICmpire Mills and Distilling Company, situ- 
ated at the foot of Water street, on the corner of 
Bridge, has gone through more th.an the usu.'il vicis- 
situdes of business. The land was sold in 1830 by 
|udge Luther Stevens to William .A. .Smith and 
Stephen Hamblin. Isaac Smith Ixaight an interest 
in it, then Ciilbert Bodine. In 1847 it beiame the 
propertv of John and Jacob Shoemaker. .\t one 
time it was owned by John S. Cjay, then by Daniel 
L. Haas, who committed suicide. Fhe mill finally 
became the property of Jacob Shoemaker and (leorge 
B. Daniels, The latter was succeeded by George O. 
Daniels who with Mr. Shoemaker ran the mills to 
the time of ths latter 's death. 

The New York mills were built in 1843 by John 
F'itch and John Leach; later the firm was Leach & 
Blain; in 1836 it became Southwell it Roberts; then 
Roberts tt Briggs. 



92 



■■(;kip'S" historical sorvENiR of seneca falls. 





Old Photo. 



JAMES H. MAC DONALD. 



James H. MacDonald was a resident of Seneca 



Falls I..1- ii.a 
was rni;ag(H 
A\ai" when he 
was a man i> 



1\- si\t\ M'aiN anil fcir abuut 50 years 
ni liLisiness laiisinls, rxeept dining the 
was in llie ser\ irr of his conntry. He 
itlerlini; i|ualilii's, nnirh attached tu his 
hiime village, fureinnst i'l iiublic iniiirdvcment and 
active in many directions that proved his nnsrllish 
devotion to the betterment of the coninmnity. Col 
MacDonald was a man who made many lirm friends 
to whom hr was ilcvotedK' atlachiil, and who were 
sincere lu then- loyalty lo lum. His was a com. 
nianding personalily — a notable iigme in the daily 
life of the connnmiity. of which he was as much a 
part as anv oilier singli- inili\idual. .\lthough not 
endowed with an abundance of means he was always 
lending a liaiul lo the suffering and helpless. It was 
an unostentatious charity that he dispensed, giving 
liberallv from slender resources and even seeking hir 
those whom he might relieve. Going about among 
the sicU whom he comforted with timely help and 
cheerv words he left memories of a generous, open- 
hearted benevolence which will never fade. 

lielng of an active and optimistic disposition he 
engaged in se\eral business pursuits until in. the later 
years of his life ivhen he settled down to that of 
insurance. In this he made up in a great measure 
for his lack of earlier successes. So strong a hold 
had he pos.sessed in the good will and conhdence of 
the community that after his death a considerable 
clientele insisted on keeping up their insurance 
through his sons. 

Col. MacDonald was born in Whitehall, X. Y., 
in 1828 and it was about 1S44 when he located at 
Seneca F'alls. To obtain means for a medical educa- 
tion he clerked and taught school. .\t Ann .^rbor 
I'niversitv he followed a course in medicine until his 
funds gave out then returned to Seneca Falls intend- 
ing to recuperate his means and complete the course. 
But he never returned to his medical studies. He 
gradually drifted into a mercantile life hnally enter- 
ing into partnership in the dry goods business, the 
lirm being Wheeler iS; MacDonald. Then the war of 
'61 broke out and he enlisted, bcingmade first lieuten- 
ant in Col. Charles B. Stuart's regiment of fndepen- 






dent \'olunteers, which subsequently became the 50th 
Engineers, .fohn B. Murray, captain of his company 
was hnally transferred to the 148th regiment and 
Col. MacDonald was made captain. Through faith- 
ful and heroic service he was promoted to major and 
afterwards breveted lieutenant-colonel and then 
colonel of the I'nited States Volunteers. 

Col. MacDonald upon his return from the .irmy 
engaged in diflerent pursuits, as has been stated, 
I'rom 1873 to 18S4 he was a member of the board of j 
education and during his last term in the board was 
president. For some years he served as justice of thei 
peace. He was a member of Pocahontas Lodge, Xo.i 
211. F. c>t A. M., Cross Post No. 78, G. A. U. and of 
the Loval Legion. He died on Jan. 5, 11)03. 

MacDonald Bros., the law hrm which w.as 
oig.nu/.cd m i.'is.s b\ the two sons of .lames H. Mac- 
Donald. Messrs. C. .\. and William S., althoughl 
engaged in a large practice that is constantly grow- 
ing, upon the death of their father fifteen years after 
they had become associated in law, felt incumbent 
upon themselves to take care of the busine>s he had^ 
worked so hard to establish — that of insurance. So. 
It is that while the latter is necessarily subordinate 
to their practice as lawyers, it is after all a business 
'o which thev are giving ccmsiderable time and w hichi 
is one of the wed I known of the several local business. 
eiili-r|irises. Both of the partners were Iwirn in .Seneca, 
I'alls, C. .\. Ma<T.)onald (ui .April 3, 1831. ,ind Wil-I 
liam S. MacDonakl on Nov. 14, iSlii. Both were- 
studi-nts at the university of Rochester of w hicli they 
were graduates, the elder of the two in 18S0 and the 
other two years hater, the former being admitted to 
practice in 1884 and the latter in i8,S5. Then they 
formed a civpartnershij) with .1 " 
lirm Hammond, Ma Donald 
tinuingfour years, i884-'8. 

The .Messrs. MacDonald are both active in se\era 
fialernities as well as in village affairs generally.' 
They .-ire strongK' attached to the Masonic order, both 
h.uiiig occupied high positions in the local lodge- 
Mr. C. -A.. MacDonald served as clerk of the board 
of education i88i-'7 and in April, iqo2, was elected 

,,„,,„|„.|- ,,f fh:,l l.-M.! r,„- 



N. Haininond, 
iS; MicD.inald. 



H, 



the 

n-i 

11 



v\\- 




Prudell, Photo. 

W. S. MAC DONALD. 



C. A. .MAC DONALD 



•■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA I'ALI.S. 



93 




Old Photo. 

wri 



JAM I'ET'I'IS l'(ll.LAlil). 



vp years, 
iiisrs I^>nnl 



nnd 



III I iSSi ) 1 1 



■tor 1 

I' mi; 



.r I 



iod 



iagr attiirnev tlir 
Sni.ca I'alls Sa\ 
A.L,nii?s J. I)a\ is, 

Mr. William S. MacDonakI was clerU of the siir- 
rni/ati-'s court i8S.j->) and is a nioinhrr of the board 
of Mianafjcrs of tlie State liospit: 



He IS tlie 
V. \- A. M. 



tlie 

sti 



Stati- li. 
of I'oi 



it 

llloill,!-, I 



Wllhl 
od.r,. 



cl. N. 



\, 



Y. 

1 1. 



William Pettis Pollard may be said to have 
"grown up" with the village of Seneca Falls, and 
was one of the earliest of its business men whose per- 
sonality brightly illuminates the pages of local 
history. Coming here when a boy six vears old, in 
1S14, he stepped upon the stage of a career of seventy 
years in the community which, when he came here, 
had hardly more than begun. When his life was 
hnished the frontier settlement of his youth had be- 
come the commercial and manufacturing center of a 
thrifty and wealthv coun 
ty. Mr. I'ollard. during 
that time distinguished 
himself in manv wavs, but 
especially as a friend and 
helper of the public schools. 
It was largely due to him 
as trustee and treasurer ol 
the Seneca Falls .\cadem\ 
that the linances of that 
institution were made to 
render an accounting of 
great value to the district 
and by careful investment 
on his part were increased 
from a fund of Si,fiootii 
S 10,000. .As trustee, ad- 
ministrator and custodian 
of public and private funiK 
he established the reputa 
tion of a sagacious, safe 
and painstaking business 
man. Mr. Pollard was 
once supervisor of the tow 11 
and for years was consulted 
in regard to its finances, 
Ins judgment being regard- 



offices and was active both in and out of office in 
promoting the welfare of the community. He was a 
frequent contributor to the newspapers of his own 
village and neighboring cities, always expressing 
himself in a felicitous manner, with a delicate 
humor that foiiml a hearty response in the readers of 
his contributions. His activity in local matters was 
untiring. He assisted in establishing the boundaries 
and in drawing up the last special charter of the vil- 
lage of .'Seneca I'"alls, and strenuouslv opposed the 
bonding of the town for the Sodus I'av railroad. 

Mr. Pollard was born in Hainbridge, Chenango 
Co., .\. Y., .\ug. 19, 1813, and his death occurred at 
Seneca Falls, March 30, 1889. He was the third son 
of Thomas and I.ovicy Church Pol.ard, who moved 
to this village in 1819. In early life he learned the 
carpenter's trade and was a skilled workman. I ater 
he engaged in the shoe business and afterwards in 
the fancy dry goods business, carrying on stores 
for several years and accumulating a competency 
which enabled him to retire from business about ten 
years prior to his death. Mr. Pollard was a man 
who made a large circle of close friends. His intel- 
lectual culture, sunny disposition and frank and 
cordial manner, the heartiness of his greeting and his 
sympathetic nature attached to himself at (nice those 
whom he met and who ever afterwards remained his 
admirers. In his family he was the truest of hus- 
bands and the tenderest of fathers. No man waj 
loiiiler of his hreside and the loved ones gathered 
about it. His widow, now in her 90th vear, his 
daughter, Mrs. S. A. Wetmore, and his granddaugh- 
ters, .Miss Edith Wetmore and .Miss Jessie Pollard, all 
living in Seneca Falls except the latter who resides 
in lirooklvn, .\. '\'.. arc all ol the lainilv who survive 
him. 

The Sanford Preparatory School, a board- 
ing sc1kh)1 kir bo_\ s under fourteen scars of age, was 
founded by Mrs. Leonard Gibbs Sanford, September, 
1901, in the Rumsey homestead on "The Terrace." 
Mrs. Sanford is a daughter of the late John A. Rum- 
sey. The school is familiarly known as Rumsey 
Hall. Though comparatively new it is very sue- 






.t4 .^ 



RH 






ed as the very best on bus- 
iness questions. He held 
various village and town 



.■-.\.\FCIKD PKEl\\K.\TORV SCHOOL, RIMSKV HALL. 

Rumsey St. .lohn Wildniaii Mayer Wise 

Oakes Fundenberjf Calvin Cusbinjr Stelnnie 

Murdoek Ford Flagg 



94 



"GRIP'S", HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 




GEN. JOHN" BdYCE MIKKAY. 



I '»< )\ s aw in aUfiK 
ma. Xiirtli Cartilin: 



rcssfiil and is lav-tialiK- i<n.)\\n. 

amc liiiiii Itali, .\li-s.)Uii. .\lal^ 

Maryland, Pennsvlxania and New \"iirk. l here arc 

twenty scholars and three instrurtor'-. Sc linol opens 

tlie thiril week in September and closes tlie second 

week in Jmie. 

Gen. John Boyce Murray «as one of Seneca 
I'alls moit distinguished citi/a-ns, his services in the 
war for the preser\'ation of the union being recoj^- 
nized both at home and throughout the country as 
entitled to tlie most profound consideration. Not 
,.|lone in Waterloo, N. 'H'.. but in dist.-mt states recog- 
nition t)f his standing as an otlu-er of the unii>n in 
the rebellion of iiSbi-'^ has taken the form of naming 
some of the Crand .\rmv Posts alter him. tien. 
Murray sprang from good ancestry: Scotch-Irish 
thniiigh his father l^dward Murra\- u-fio also united 
with the Yankee through his ( iCduard's) mother a 
Preston, traced b.iik to the May- 
llower and h rench Huguenot 
from Ins mother Phoebe M;in- 
chester, the wife of ICdward 
Murray. The fruit of the mar- 
riage of lulward and Phoebe was 
se\en children of whom the sole 
survivor is .Mrs. I'.niily P. Bonham 
of Os'ieola, Pa. IClias, one of the 
sons, ser\'ed with the federal 
arniv in the rebellion in the 
ca\alry and on the stall of den. 
H;inks, .and hi' occupies an un- 
marked grave on the held of the 
batth^ of the Wilderness. Like 
his hrotiier. (ien. .lolin B. Murray, 
his career as a soldier was dis- 
tinguished with braverv. 

(Jen. .Murray was born on a 
farm in the town of .\rlington, 
Bennington i-ounty, \'t., in 1H22. 
When he was nine years old his 
parents moved to .Scipio, Cayuga 
Co., X. Y., where both of them 
spent the balance of their lives. 
With the advantages only of a 



district schotil.lohn B. Murrax' largeK' atajuired his 
education b\ iiis own iiuiustrw .\t ii) \a'ars of age 
he began teaching school in West Payette, S tin a 
Co., whicdi furnished him the means to prosecute tl;r 
study of law, justiie Wilkinson of Bearytowii .assist- : 
ing him. lor si\ or se\'en ve.ars his limr was 
divided between teaching school and expomulin^ 
law in justices couits 111 the towns of has litr aii.l 
\'aiack. In April, 1S4N, he married Angelina S.i\.ag', 
who was .a pupil in tin- lirst school that lie taught. 
I 01 Inc \-..ar^ tlira home was in 1 le.ii s li 'W 11 where 
the general loiiliiuied his jileadiiigs in justices courts. 
In the spring of iS/jj they moved to Seneca I'alls 
where Sir. .Murray was a law student in the ollice of 
.liulge Miller until Sej:)tember of tin- same \ e;ir 
when he was admitted to the bar. .\lreatlv he had 
acquired local celebrity in jury trials. Soon after 
his admission to the bar he formed a co-partnership 
with P. H. ^'an .\uken, afterwards county judgir, 
whii h continued until Mr. .Murray enlistetl. On his; 
return from the war he lillett \arious public ollices. 
In 1.SX2 he formed a co-partnership with J.aines Har- 
mon whiih continued up to the time of (ien. .Mur- 
ray's death. 

The prologue to (ien. Murra\'s niilitar\- career 
began with his commission as captain in the ijtli 
regiment, 2f*th brigade of the state militia, dated 
Sej^t. 17, i-'^T). He was commissioned brigatle 
inspector, 2f>tli brigatle, .luly 17, 1^54. t )n tin- 
outbreak of the rebellion he spent the Inst few 
months making speei hes in behalf of the union and 
encouraging enlistments throiigh this section of the 
state. 

On Sept. 30, iMo, he was commissioned ca[)lain in 
the .50th N. ^'. State \'olunteers, and on Sept. 3, 
1W12, majot in the i4''^th, with which regiment he 
continued in active service to the close of the war. 
On Oct. 26, 18(13, he was commissioned lieutenant- 
colonel and on Oct. iii, 1864, colonel. On his return 
home, after being mustered out of service, he found 
;iv\'aiting him the commission of brevet brigatlier- 
geiieral, made out .lune ij, 18(13, and dated March 
ij preceding, signed by President .\ndre\v .lohnsoii. 
It was a complete surprise to him. The hrst two 
the earliest — commissions bear the signature of (iov. 
v.. I). Morgan and the other two that of (lov. 
Horatio Seymour. 

The 148th was one of the finest disciplimd .ind 
best hghting regiments that went into the w.ir and 




I'nidell, Ph.itu. 

CLINTUN 



STKEET, EAST SIDE I.dOKIXC NdHTH FI«I.\I 
WESLEl'AN CHLKCH. 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



05 



ivcrv survivor came home at the close of service a 
Mti-r.in. It was c-ommanded successively by Cols. 
.liiliiiMMi, (iiiion .111(1 \Iurr,-iy, and i)arlici])atr-cl in 
ni.inv ol the liaiilrst Inufjht enfjageinents. rcniainuif; 
in the licld until the end and takinj; p.irt ui the 
i;ranil review at \\'ashins;t<>ii. 

While the ref;inieiit was in the \'irginian crnii- 
paifjn on Jan, J4, iSd/j, the enlisted men presented 
their cnnnnander, then Col. Murray, with a beauti- 
ful and expensive sword, sash and belt, a tr<)i)h\' of 
their regard antl allection \\'hich his faniilv cherish 
.ihove all material mementos he has left them. 

Previous to 18(14 the i4.Sth did garrison duty at 
Norlolk and Yorktown. Its banners are inscribed 
uilh the battle roll for iHI)^ as follows: — Clover Hill. 
\l.iv S; Swift Creek, .\Iav 12; Drewrv's lilulT. May 16; 
I'.irt Walthall, May 2(.'; Cold Harbor, .fune i and 2: 
Kowletts House, .'une 15; Petersburg, June i5-;\ug. 
J5 (inclusive): Fort Ciilmer, Sept. jg; Fair Oaks, Oct. 
27. Col. Murrav commanded the regiment at I'air 
Oaks and in the following engagements in 1865: 
H;itchers Run, M.irch, 31: Fort Gregg, .\pril j: 



[the swordj your beautiful gift, upon the walls of my 
home and point mv children to it as the proudest 
memento of which 1 am possessed." The sword 
hangs upon the walls of his widow's home, .as he 
promised. 

Gen. Murray's interest in his conira<ies continued 
to the last. He was one of the I'lrst to respond to tin' 
movement for the organization of the Grand .\rmv 
of tin; Republic, and cine of the first of such organi- 
zations was that^ of Cross Post at his own home 
which he helped to organize. I'lie Irieiuls ;niil com- 
rades of Gen. .Murrav claim for him the honor of 
being the originator of Memorial d.ay in the norlli, 
which was inaugurated under his auspices at Water- 
loo, N. '\'., in the spring of i8fuS. 

After the war Gen. Murray not onlv took an active 
part in politics but was a conspicuous hgure in all 
public events. His family still kee]) a prize, thi' 
bronze medal which he received as one of "the old 
guard," the 306, who stood stubbornlv for the nom- 
ination of (jen. Grant for president for the third term 
at the repnblicin national convention at Chicago. 




Pruden, Photo. THE BOAKD OF EDUCATroN. 

Lower Row (left to rijfht)— Thomas McGovern: Henry Stowell; J. N. Hammond, President: r. 
Rice, Supt: Norman .1. Gould. Top Row— Fred Iscnman; F. A. Siejfrest; (Uarence A. MacDonald. 



Wiilard 



Rices Station, April b; .\ppomattox Court House, 
.\pril 9, forming a part of the inm cordon which 
lirought Gen. Lee and his army to bay and compelled 
them to surrender. .\t the head of his regiment he 
proudlv marched in the grand review at Washington 
of the victorious army ol the north that followed. 
Gen. Murray in receiving the beautiful sword from 
the hands of Private Henrv J. Peck replied in chosen 
language that exhibits the beautiful side of his 
character. "You have w ritten your record in blood, 
said he, among other things, "and have received 
Irom those high in connnand your full meed of praise 
liir the heroic deeds that yim have performed. Go 
then, comrades, as vou have begun, and when you 
liave completed your mission here and have witnessed 
the complete overthrow of this rebellion, by the 
humiliation of the last rebel in arms, then may you 
return to your homes and vour firesides to receive 
from a grateful country the praise which you have so 
richly earned." In closing he said: "I will hang this 



He was even before the war a stirring politician tak- 
ing part in the organization of the republican party 
in Seneca county and the Lincoln campaign which 
followed, in i860. He was a stalwart in 1872. sup- 
porting U. S. Senator Roscoe Conkling of whom he 
continued to be a strong admirer. He was also a 
strong friend of U. S. Senator Thomas C. Piatt. In 
the Blaine campaigns he was one of the hrmest 
adherents to the "Plumed Knight." 

It was while engaged in a public ceremony, mak- 
ing the presentation of a banner to the local political 
organization, "the Plumed Knights," in the Blaine 
campaign, which occurred at the residence of 
Harrison Chamberlain, Seneca Falls, that he was 
stricken with apoplexy and in four short hours 
expired. .After delivering the speech he sat down, 
and his imminent collapse was quickly apparent to 
the practiced eye of Dr. Elias Lester who wiis sitting 
near to him. Midst the cheering of the assemblage 
for "the old veteran Republican Gen. John B. 



96 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENECA FALLS. 



Murray" which he recognized with a wa\ e of his hand 
and a smile, he was tenderly liftecl up and carried 
out. The ininiense crowd ni:ul(^ it necessary Xv 
reniiivc Iniu through a wiudnw, tlic cimfusinn conse- 
quent nf a public gathering making it desirable to 
get hini t'l a place nf quiet. He was carried intn 
the homo nI lii>^ old friend and comratie-in-arms, 
(ien. Cieorgi- M. lluiou. .\t lu-.t apparently uni-on- 
scious, he rallied up'ni tlir arrival af his \\': fe \\h' • 
had been calleil fr»>in her JK'nie, and recognized bulh 
her and some "1' his friends uhn stitnd abtjut him. 
The hrst stroke IkuI come :il .|-. v-' I'- ui.; the se<-on(l 
■ md his death at 1:30 a. m., Oct. S, 1SS4. 

Cien. .Murray's burial was attended by 30.) \eteran 
soldiers, a large niunl)er of family friends and se\e:al 



The Schools; History of the Seneca Falls and 
Mynderse Academies; and the Public Schools. — The 
hrst public school house in the village of Seneca 
Falls was erected of logs ne.xt to the present site of 
Trinity Episcopal church, June 13, iSoi. In 1807 
the old Wilhelmus Mynderse residence mi the terrace 
was taken down and put together on Cavuga street. 
In 1S17 the building was removed to the site of the 
present First Ward school on North Park street — a 
lot donated by Wilhelnms .Mynderse for that pur- 
pose, and this answered for the schools <if the village, 
excepting private schools, until the erection of the 
old .\cademy building. On May 12. 1832, a sub- 
scription for an .\cadeniy was opened, .\bout 100 
shares, 823 each, were taken, of which Col. Mvu- 




nd. n. Photo. 



THE MYNDERSE ACADEMY. 



distinguislied men from different parts of the country. 
.\11 business in the village was suspended. 

Telegrams received from all over the United States 
attested the profound esteem in which he was held. 

The escort to the remains comprised grand army 
posts from tnany adjoining towns. Floral decora- 
tions in abundance were presented. The funeral 
consisted of the Episcopal church service and the 
solemn burial rites of the (irand .Xrmy of the Repub- 
lic. T'vo thousand people witnessed the interment 
of the remains at Restvale. Cien. Murray is survived 
at this writing ( |an. 22. 1904) by his widow and two 
children. Maud M.irv (Mrs. Charles Wnjcntt Hubbell) 
of Chicago, .iiid William S. Murr.iv id W.iterloo, 
N. Y. 



derse subscribed for twenty. The oilier subscribers 
were .\sher Tyler, .\nthony l)cy. Richard E. Gav. Wil- 
liam H. King, .Matthias B. Bellows (the lirst trustees), 
and Samuel Day. C. L. Hoskins, John S. G.iv, D. W. 
Foreman, Wilson N. Bnnvn, .lonathan Metc.ilf, 
.loseph hailing. S.aiimel Ciarlick. .\biah;im Pa\'ne, 
John P. I'airchild, Seelev & Stockman, Samuel Brad- 
ley, Sadoc Nash, Jabez I.indsley, (iary \'. Sacket. 
.John L. Bigelow. Jeremy Bement, S. D. .Mumford, 
George .\rnold, H. S. \'an Rensselaer, John .M. 
Wheaton, Hezekiah Kelley. L. Smith, .loseph C. 
Payne, .Vnsel Bascom, Samuel Payne, Charles W. 
Day. David Durand, E. Partridge. G. Isaacs, Sheldon 
Wood, -\mherst Childs, R. G. Pardee. Maynard & 
Sackett, .1. K. Brown, W. M. Bayard, Bayard & Footc, 
Samuel J. Bayard, (ieorge W.Towar, James S. Sheth- 



'•GRIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol' SENECA FALLS. 



rr, 1). C. Bloomer and C. C. \'anre. Not one of this 
n Limber is now living and only one. C. I.. Hoskins. 
lived to see the present Academy l)uildinf; occupied. 
I )n June jj. iSjjj, Wilhelmus Mynderse donated 
,ind transferred the lot for the .\cadeinv to the trus- 
tees — the first live stockholders named in the 
foregoincr list. 

Tlie first recorded meeting of the stockholder'^ was 
held July 12, 1S33. at P. Watkins' tavern. Jonathan 
.Metcalf was chosen chairman and Charles L. Hoskins 
vi'retary. To this meeting the trustees reported that 
Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse had deeded them the lot 
on wiiicli the .\cadeniy now stands, that on this they 
had erected a n^-arly completed building at a cost of 
.Si.firyfi.'o, and that they had 8508.80 in uncollected 
subscriptions. They were directed to collect what 
was possible from the subscriptions and e.vpend 
it in their discretion in finishing the building and 
improving the grounds. The building, a brick 



should participate in the literature fund when tlu 
Regents should be satisfied that it had complied with 
the requisitions. Two years later, 1831J, these con- 
ditions were complied with and it was admitted bv 
the Regents to share in their distributions. In 1841 
it received S 1,500 from the Rochester ct Auburn 
Railroad Co. for damages in appropriating a portion 
of its grounds. 1 

From its early beginnings until iSfii, Charles L. 
Hoskins was the secretarv and treasurer and virtuallv 
the business manager of the institution. He man- 
aged it S( successfully that there was a continual 
profit from the school. In 183c) its assets were 
■'^5,545, in 1844, 87,790 and in 1859, $8,79'>. 

The growth of L'nion High Schools, in connecti<ni 
with the public school system of the State, however, 
began to diminish the prosperity of private schools, 
and the Seneca Falls .Academy suffered with others, 
until finally, the breaking out of the war for the 
union completed its prostration. 



I il 








*t\ 




lliib 



- a[ ■ - 



.*/ 



Fnideu. Phutn 



THE THIKI) WAKD .--CHniil.. 



structure, 32.K50 feet, two stories high, was so nearly 
linished that school was opened in it the same year 
l)y Cotton M. Crittenden, the first principal. 

.\sher Tyler and Charles L. Hoskins drafted a 
petition to the Regents of the Universitv of the State 
of New York asking that the .\cademv be incorpo- 
rated under the name of the Seneca Falls .Academy. 
1 he Regents, however, refused the petition on the 
ground of insufiicient endowment. In 1837 Col. 
Mynderse died, bequeathing bv his will 82,000 to the 
.\cademy. The same year it was incorporated as 
Seneca Falls .Academv bv special act fif the legis- 
lature. By this act the (we original trustees, to- 
gether with Wilhelmus .Mynderse, Samuel Dey, C. I.. 
Hoskins, John S. (lay. Daniel W. F'oreman, .Abraham 
Fayne, .lohn P. fairchild. Sadoc Nash, (jarv \'. 
Sacket and Isaac Smith were made trustees of tlie 
corporation, and it was provided that the .Academy 



In 181 J. Wm. I'. I'ollard was elected treasurer. 
The funds of the corporation had already been im- 
paired, and five years more were spent in a vain 
struggle to maintain a school. Tlun the building 
and appurtenances were turned over at a noniinrd 
rental to the Board of ICducation of the newly organ- 
ized district, and the treasurer gathered together the 
remaining funds, invebt'.ng them for future educa- 
tional benefits with great advantage and profit to 
the -\cademy. 

In 1S07 the legislature enacted the law creating 
the present Iiducational District by the consolidation 
of several common school districts. This act author- 
ized the .Acadeiyv board of trustees to transfer to ti.e 
board of education "on such conditions as they 
jointiv shall deem most conducive to the cause of 
education, tlie right, title and interest in and to all 
the estate, real and personal, and all bequests be- 



9« 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL, SOUVENIR OF StNECA FALLS. 



longing to said Academy, to be by them used in the 
purchase of a site, the erection of suitable buildings, 
the organization of an academic or high school 
department, or for the maintenence of an academy 
in connection with the general free school system." 

From the passage of this act of 1867 to the time of 
the erection of the present building the Hoard of 
Education leased the academy building from the 
board of trnstees for the high school of the district, 
which was known as the Seneca Falls High .School. 
The Hoanl of ICducation was confronted with the 
])roblem as how to acquire ownership of the build- 
ing, it being onlv lessee. The Seneca I'alls .\cademy 
was a corporation with shares of stock. Kinanciallx 
it had been successful. The revenues had been care- 
fully husbanded and invested. I"he treasurer had 
exercised faithful care .and supervision over the funds 
and so judicious were his investments that at tlie 
time of the transfer the property .imounted to nearly 
Sjo,ooo. Whether the funds could be divided 



Mew York City, son of Edward and grandson of 
Col. Wilhelmus Mynderse. 

On June i, 1885. this board of trustees passed for- 
mal resolutions tendering the property of their 
corporation to the Educational District on condition 
that a suitable building be erected with the funds 
supplemented bv money of the district, and that a 
scho.)l of .\cademic grade be forever maintained, said 
school to bear the corporate name of .Mynderse. 
On June 4th the Hoard of Education by fornual reso- 
lution, accepted the gift and proceeded to call a tax 
meeting ro raise sufhcient additional funds to erect 
the required building. 

On June 22 the tax nu-eling was held .mil legally 
authorized the issue of bonds of the district in an 
amount not exceeding !Si3,ooo. In accordance with 
these [iremises the Hoard of Education proceeded to 
erect and furnish a building at a cost of S ^o,o(xi. 
designating it as "Mvnderse .\cademy. ' 




Pniden. IMioio. 
among tlie original stockiiohlcrs, 
■issigns, or whether thry nuisi In 



THK KdlRTH W.\RD SCHOOL 

their heirs and 



held 



n triivt for 
unit winch 
in persist- 



for a new building 
complications aros<- 



educational purpos(•^ wa-. .1 qui'sti(pn a 
lawvers differed. The Hoanl nl l-.ikicati 
cntly held the latter \ iew. 

In the meantime the di-niand 
became' prfssing. I'erplcxiug 

and controversv «as inuninent. I'inally, in the 
winter of iSS^-'^. steps were taki-n for the reorganiz- 
ation of the board of trustees of tlie .\i-ademy. that 
corporation not having held a meeting in some ten 
vears. and Mav i. 1883. a legally (onstituted board 
was formed. The object of this reorgiuiizalion was 
the transfer <if the Aiademy |iroperty to the Hoard of 
Education of the ICdncational District of Seneca 
I'alls. In the preliminary and subsequent move- 
ments to this end, one of the most earnest and 
elTicient .agents w.-is W'ilhelnuis M\nderse, I'-sq.. of 



On Irul.ix. S.pl. iX. i><8^, llii- work of tearing 
down the old brick building began. 

On Oct. 1, 1885. the trustees of Seneca l^'alK .\ca(l- 
eniv. at a dulv called meeting, passed resolutions 
declaring that'lhe Hoard of ICdncation had fuHilled 
the conditions imposed in the resolutions of June 1st, 
S.I far as jiroviding funds and approved plans for a 
building, and the tri'.isurer of the Seneca Falls 
.\c,idemv was directed to jilace the checks and other 
appropriate instrnnuaits of transfer in the hands of 
.\lbert Cook, in escrow, to be by him Ir.msferred to 
the Hoard of ICducation, as the building progressed 
to i-ompletion. It being found necessary, in order to 
complete the title lo the real estate, the courts, upon 
joint petition of the trustees of Seneca I'alls .\cademy 
and of the Ho.-ird of Education, appointed Charles 
L. Hoskins trustee in pl.ace of the trustees named ni 
the original gift, .and he executed the proper mstru- 



■CIRIPS- HISTOUICAI. SOUVENIR ()!■ SENECA FALLS. 




HEV. SAMUEL SALISniHV. 
First Preacher in t.lu- Weslf^yan Methodist eliuich. 



Seneca Falls. N. V., 1844. (See sketcli pasre 100.) 



.th.- 



til. 



luents. wincli were |>l;ice(! with tlie 
h.(nds cil' Albert C("il<. 

On Deceinber 3, l><^*j. Innnal appluatnin was made 
t<i the Regetits i>f the I'niversity to change the name 
of the Senera Falls High School to Mvnderse 
Academy, and at the regular meeting of the Hoard 
of Education, March j, 18S6, a communication from 
the Regents was read stating that thereafter the 
academic department of the I'nion Free S.'hool of 
Seneca Tails should be designated and recognized bv 
tile Regents, by and imder tl.e name of Sivnderse 
Academv. 

Fpon tile jotli day of March. iSso, tin- trustees of 
Seneca Falls .\cadem\' held a final meeting. I'or- 
inally reciting the fact that all the conditions pre- 
cedent to the gift had been complied witli, they 
<lirected that the deeds and instruments pl.iced in 
escri>\\ with Albert Cook, be deii\ere(l to lli- I'.o.ir.l 



of Education — and, having thus c-ompleted their 
mission, adjourned sine die. The deeds were duly 
delivered and properly recorded, and the Educational 
District of Seneca Falls came into legal possession of 
the property dedicated to Higher Eclucation in ifijj. 

The new building was coinplete.l in the summer 
ol iSK() .-ind thrown open for public inspection on 
Tuesday afternoon, .\ugust 31. On the evening of 
the same day dedicatory exercises were held in the 
assembly hall. .Mr. Henry Stowell, editor of the 
Reveille, presided and addresses were made bv .\Ir. 
Stowell, Hon. Clias. R. Skinner, of the Department 
of I'ublic Instruction, Hon. Wni. H. Bogart of .\urora. 
\. ^■.. Clias. .\. H.iwdey, Esq., .1. N. Hammond. Es<| , 
and I'icif. .\. C. .Mcl.achlan. To the i-ompleted 
buihliug a bell weighing 1000 pounds was presented 
by Mr. E. \'an Wyck l.oomis. To-dav, eighteen 
years after its construction, the building is as modern 
.IS when built and answers adinirablv the needs of 
the town. 

The graduating classes since the organization of 
Mynderse .Academy have averaged over twentv grad- 
uates to each class, Aviiich is unusuil in a town of 
this siz^ and speaks well for the conlidence ,ind 
interest which tlie people have had in the schools. 

rME W.VRl) SCHOOLS 

In the Third Ward a bri<'k school house was built 
on Williams street in 11^33. In the later do's, owing 
to the rapid growth of this section of the village it 
became inadequate. On .April 30, 1870, a tax meet- 
ing was held which authorized the Board of Educa- 
tion to purchase the lot of Cieorge B. Daniels on 
Seneca Lane and issue bonds to the extent of .Sn.oon, 
for the construction of ;i new Third Ward school 
build.ing, which was opened in .\|)ril. 1S71. ,ind is 
the building still in use. 

..\bout 1S30 a brick school building was erected iii 
the ['"ourtli Ward. This was burned on .\ug. 2, i.S(i.s. 
.\ tax meeting held Sept. 4, i8'iS directed the Bo;ird 
of l^dui'.'ition to rebuild the building aiul as an ex- 
tension to the grounds, to purcli.ase the ,i<ljoiniiig loi 
from Mrs. Murray and to issue bond- to the extent of 
JS4,o ):) for that pur[)ose. This building w.as oj^ened 
for scliool in the spriiiiT of iSfx, :in(l is still in use. 




Piuden, Photo THE GOTLD HItMESTEA D-aESIDENCE OF THE LATE S. .«. GorLD. 

(See portrait and sketch on panre HB.; 



■•GRIPS" HISTORICAL, SOUVENIR Ob SENECA FALLS. 



In the First Ward the frame building erected in 
1817 WHS later replaced by a brick building whicli 
has been enlarged and repaired many times and 
to-day stands as a relic of the past; improperly 
lighted, heated and ventillated and entirely inade- 
quate for the needs of the First and Second Wards 
which it has to accommodate. 

In 1871 a school was opened in Rumsev\ille in a 
small frame building erected for that purpose, but 
was abandoned three years later. 

THF. SCHOOLS ol" TO-ll.\V 

.\t present three of the four school buildings aie 
in excellent condition, being well lighted and 
equipped with modern furniture and heating appli- 
ances. Liberal provision has been made tor libraries, 
maps and gh^bes. 'Ihe chemical and physical labor- 
atories are supjilieit with apparatus so that individual 
instruction is offered to the students. 

Courses of instruction are offered in tiu' High 
.School department which will admit students with- 
out examination to nearly all the .\mericau colleges. 
.At present there are students from this school in 
twelve diflerent institutions ol higher learning. 

In 1402 Mr. Louis H. Hood gave, in memory of his 
wife, a perpetual scholarship in Syracuse University, 
known as the Linda C<jolidge Hood Memorial 
Scholarship. This gave another opportuuitv and a 
new impetus to those looking collegeward. 

Since the organization of tlie Board of Education 
the members ha\e alwavs taken an active interest in 
the management of the schools. Many of the com- 
missioners have served for long terms and because of 
this have been able to intelligently know and supply 
the needs and requirements of the schools. In point 
of service Commissioner Stowell has served longer 
than any other man wht> ever held the office, having 
been continuously a member of the Board since 1868. 
Commissioner Hammond li.is been president of the 
Board since 189S. 

The present C<jmmission(;rs of I'.ducation of the 
Educational District of Seneca Falls are: President, 
.lasper N. Hammcmd; Commissiimers, Henry Stowell, 
I'red A. Siegrest, Norman J. ("lould, Clarence A. Mac- 
Donald, Ferd Isenman and Thomas .McGovern; Clerk 
and Siijierintendent, C. W"illard Rice. 

LIST Ol' COM.MISSIONERS 

1 he members of the Board of Education since its 
organization in 1867 have been: — Josiah T. .Miller, 
(deceased], i8e>7-'8; i87o-'(.. |ohn Cuddehack, fdecj, 
i8f.7-'8. Gilbert Wilcoxen, ' i867-'8. Burnett B. 
Boardman, i8(i7-'7o. Simeon Holton, [deC|, i8(>7-'7i. 
William Beary, [decj, i8(,7-'8. O. S. Latham, fdecj, 
i8f>7.8. Hiram Burt, |dec|, i8f>7-'7o. James U. Pol- 
lard, I decJ, iSf'8-'7o; 1877; 1883-f); i887-'oi. Henry 
Sto-vell, i8f,8 to 1-eh. i87(,, and from April ■i87i. 
to the present tiii.e. William L. Bellows, i8h8-'7,. 
.lames .\. Manag.in, idi<-j. i8f)i)-'L|j; 1847-1402. 
George B. Daniels, |dec|, i87o-'2. .\lhert Jewett, 
Idee], 1870-'!. Jasper \. Hammond, i87i-'4': 1848 
to the present time. Prvce W. Bailev, i872-'4: 1877- 

83. Burton H. Hfnhani, [decJ, 1873-'!'. .1. .Marshall 
Guion, l<li-i|, 1874. '7. I.yman F. Crovvell, [dec], 
i.--74-'7. James H. MacDonald, [decj, i875-'84. 
I.eroy C. Par-ridge, ldec|. i87f.-'8. Robert Bicliford, 

dec I, i8-(,-,,. I'eter H. \'.an -\uken, i877-'84. 
Willi.im H. P.ill.ird, [di'ij, 1878. '82, Henrv T. 
Noyes, iK-4-'84. Philo Cowing, \d:c\. i882-'i. 
Harrison Chamberlain, i884-'7. William Walker, 
i884-'4v C. S. Hood. i884-'h. Chas. T. .\ndre\vs, 
i88v'47. George Shandley, i8H6.'8. .\lbert S. Gav, 
i88f.-'4. Wm. V. \'an Rersselaer, i888-'4o. Tho's. 
.1. Geer, i884-'45; 1847-1402. Eugene \. Rumsey, 
fdecj, i840-'2. Dr. John F. Crosby, 1842-4; iSg.v'S. 
Chas. S. Sanderson, i892-'6. Johii H. Jones, [dec], 
1^12-'-. T. J. Yawg'-r, 1844-''.. Samuel Waller. 



i895-'8. P. W. Bailey, i8g6-"8. S. \. Wormstead, 
i84f.-'4. Dr. Wm. M. l''ollett, 1848-1402. jnlm M. 
Went/, i8ijS-ii)02. Dr. J. S. Purdy, igo2-'o3. 

I.[ST OF I'KINCIP.M.S 

The principals from the organization of the Seneca 
1' .alls .\cadem\' down to the present time ha\'e been: 

Seneca I'.ills .\( adeniv Cotton M. Crittenden, 
i833-'44: Uutger \',ui Brunt. 1844 to .\pril '45; Mar- 
tin I.. Bellows .\pril to July i^-ilS'' Oren Root, 1843- 
'4; C'has. .\. .\\ery, i844-'3j: Myron H. Beach, 1833- 
'(': Samuel G. Williams, i83fi-'7: Rev. ji'lm \I. 
(iuion, 1837 to Jan. 'do: Chas. D. \' ul. April 1800 t.i 
Dec. 'lii; Napoleon Palmer, .\piil tc. Dec (.2; S. .\de- 
line Polhird, Jan. i8()3-'4; George M. Janes, Jan. 
i8f,4-"(,: Chas. A. Wetmore, Jan. i8Wi-'7: J. .\. Rice, 
|an. to Mar. nSh;; .Mina S. Basconi, .\pril to July 
'i8(.7. 

Seneca Falls High Sch<jol - Wm. W. Nelles, 1807 
to .May 'f>8; Rev. I'rancis I). Hodgsim, i8()8-'74; Ezra 
li. Fancher, i874-'82; Geo. I". Sawver. i882.'V; 
Archibald C. Mcl.achlan, i883-'3. 

Mvnderse .\cademy — .Archibald C. .McLachlan. 
i885-'4; Linda T. Dra'ke, 1S89— . 

The superintendents of the Educational District 
have been: — .Archibald C. McLachlan, i884-'42; V. S. 
Porter, i842-'7; Chas. T. Andrews, i8g7-'4; C. Wil- 
lard Rice, 181^4 — present incumbent. 

The teachers in the schools at present ^ire: — 

Mynderse .Academy — Linda T. Drake, Principal, 
L:inguages and Geometr\ ; Blanche R. Daniels. Liter- 
.iture, .\lgebra, French; Carrie M. .Allen, Science; 
(irace Flower Williams, English, V. S. History; .May 
Weeland, English, .\rithmetic; Mary E. Viele, Eighth 
Grade; Ida M. .Stahl, Seventh Grade; M. Sabin.i 
Casey, Sixth Grade; .Anna L. Ward, Drawing. 

First Ward Building — Harriet S. Chatham, Prin- 
cipal; M.irtha E. ^'reeland, .Mice C. Casey, Bertha T. 
I. eland, Maude H. Easton, Bessie M. Wickes. Barbara 
Ge(.irge, .Vnna Hooper. 

Third Ward Building — \'ina S. Deming, Principal: 
.Margaret I'lanagan, Teresa McKeon. 

I'liurth Ward Building — Fannie M. Berry, Princi- 
pal; Teres.-i Farron, Bessie Miller, Mary Harmon. 

Samuel Salisbury was born at Herknner m 
in 1804. In childhciod he remo\ed with his parents 
tn Orle.ins ccmntv, X. ^'. There he received a com- 

mnn scl 1 cduciticni. and taught in the district 

schools of the county for several years. He identified 
himself with the .Methodist Episcopal church in his 
early manhood and at the age of twenty-five years 
he began the aiti\e work of the ministry in that 
church. In the year 1843 he bec.ime indentified with 
the anti-slaverv movement and withdrew from the 
M. v.. ihiuch and united with others in forming 



the Weslevan Methodist iliiu' 



In 1844 lir be 



the pastor of th.'il society in Seneca I'alls, being the 
second pastor .and the first to occupy the new church, 
which had just been erected. He was noted for his 
line qualities both as a ])ulpit orator .and for his 
ge[iial, noble and manly ways as a I'itizen and 
gentleman, lie was the father of H. S. S.alisbury 
one of Senec.i l''alls' lawyers, .and attorney for the 
^tate excise connnission. 

Five Nations; their iel.iii\ e rank When lli.i- 
watha, till' wisi- ni.ui of the Iroquois, brought 
his people together and demanded that they should 
miite in one great confederaiy, which they did - 
forming the Five Nations — he in the following words 
assigned to each nation its relative rank in the con- 
federacy; "You, the Mbliawks, who are sitting under 
the shelter of the great tree whose branches spread 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOl"V'I'.NIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




William Arthur Swaby v 

li.irriit-, .11 l'.s|i\, CMhinilii.-i Cii , 

iNj.S, ,111(1 \\;is lllr \( lUMfil'sl sun I 

\iiii iLiii/li Swahs. Mis rarl\ 



.IS Ihmii mI Kllfjllsh 

l',i., 1.11 M.ircli ij, 
.1 hirdnlck I'., and 
I'ducalinn was uli- 



1.111 




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WILLIAM A. SWAUY. M. H. 

wiilr .11-11111111 and uliosi- niots sink dc'cp inlci tin 
rartli, sh.ill l)f llii- iiusr nation, because yuii arf u.ir- 
liko and niiglit\ . Ydu. the Oneidas. wlin rocline 
vnLir bodies against the everlasting stcine that cannnt 
be moved, shall be the SECOND nation because yon 
alvvavs give wise couiisrls. Yon. the ( iiiondag.'is, 
who have your h.-ibitatioii at the foot of the gre.it 
hills and air . .\ri shallowed by their crags, shall lir 
the I iiiHii nation, because >-ou are greatly gifted in 
speech. You, the Senecas, whose dwellings are ir 
the dark forest and whose home is all over the land, 
shall be the ioirth nation because ol your snpeiior 
cnnning in luiiiting, \nil \ou, the Cayugas, the 
people who live in the open country, and possess 
much wisdom, shall be the kiI^th nation because you 
understand better the art of raising corn and beans 
and making lodges." 



!■ .icadeinies of C;it;iwiss.i .-Mid I'll' M .nislnng. 
\\r\i\ to I'hiladelphia .mil illlrrrd lllr 
.-losliua M. Wallace and Slum alli-r becaiiir 
11 jrll.rs.in Medical College lomi which 
he was gr.iduat'd with Ikhioi in 1N40, 
■turned to liloomsburg ;ind bcg.-ni the prac- 
1m r (if Ins profession, remaining llinr Iwo \rars. 
when he came to .Seneca kails and lonird in jiractice 
with Dr. John S. Clark, where he bream, ,,nr ,,f Ihe 
leading physicians. 

In the treatment of all diseases, he bionghl to Ihe 
dlsch.'irge of ;ill his duties .a degree of intelligence and 
skill r.irely surpassed. .\s a surgeon he was conspic- 
iiciusK skillful and successful. For his profession he 
w .IS riiiiiicnll\- qualilied. In tl he been iiie w iilel \ 
kiiMWii Ills iiiiiid was stored with geiirr.il know- 
ledge, and in .-ill things lie w ;is .1 studious, thoiiglM fiil 
and intelligent man. 

lie was especi.alh' the friend ot the poor and snller- 
ing, ami no demand v\'as ever made upon him 
whether lor material aid or professional ser\ ices to 
« hich he did not cheerfully respond. 

In iiSiiq Ciov. Hoffman appointed him a meinber of 
the board of trustees of Willard .\sylum, and in i^/.i 
he was elected county treasurer. For twenty years 
he was one ot the coroners of the county. He was a 
member of the Seneca County Medical Society of 
which he was the president in 1871. In .lune, 1858, 
he was married to Miss .Amelia S. Ciould, who with 
two sons and the daughter survive him. 

Hat Making w,is an industry in 1817, when 
Messrs. Stout, Crum & C(-impton, at Xo. 2 Mechanics 
Hall I'mploved ten men and made hats. In those 
da\s.i beaver hat brought $10. .Xfter three years 
Crum took the business and was succeeded by Clark 
cSc Rogers, then by the Lums. I). H. I.um was a 
hatter from 1827 to' 1842. In 183; he advertises as 
lollows in the "Seneca Falls I)eniocrat:' M\ tender 




Pruden, Pliutu. 



THE ltESlUE.\( L ciK THE LATE DR. W. A. SWAUY. 



•■GRIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




MlHMAN HAVNE8 TiECKEK. 
friends, I write these few lines to let you know that 
I continue to work at mv trade (as in diitv bound 
thfse hard times) at the Seneca FaHs hat and cap 
store, opposite C. L. Hoskins, where I keep con- 
stantly on hand a large assortment of hats and caps 
of the best quality, latest fashion and lowest price. 
.My shop is full, I hope vour pockets are. I hope 
they wdl soon run over for our mutual benefit 
lours respectfully, n.ivid li. l.um." 

Norman H. Becker, for thirt\-li\e vears en- 
pged in banking in Seneca l-'alls and linallv becoin- 
mg one of the most prominent bankers in this 
section, was born in the town of Favette, Seneca Co.. 
X. "i., in 1842. He was the oldest son of John an<l 
Barbara Becker, who lived several vears in the village 
of W aterloo, N. Y. Norman Becker had the best 
opportunities forgetting an education and he took 
advantage of them. In his 20th vear he was gradu- 



ated witii honors at Hamilton College. Possessing 
a taste lor literature in which he obtained the 
highest degree at college, he .afterwards becaiii.- a 
great n'ader and well inlornied nn ,il| subjei-ts. 
rpr>ii linlshing his college coliis • he taught (or a 
tiiiic in \\'hitesti)Wii Seminary. In that \illagi- lie 
obtained his first e.vperience in banking, being lor a 
short time employed in one of the banks there. ( )ii 
his return home he was appointed teller of th.' 
National E.\ihange Bank in Seneca Falls, taking that 
position at the time of the organization of the bank 
111 18(13. Soon after, he became cashier, the post 
which he occupied until that institution was sui- 
ceeded by the E.xchange National Bank, in which he 
was alsi) made cashier and was the principal manager 
of its affairs until the close of his life. Conducting 
the business of the b;ink wiselv and taking an act- 
ise part in the .State Bankers' .Vssociation, where he 
was regarded as a man of marked ahilitv, he ulti- 
mately made a high re()utation both as a manager 
and a Imaiicier. Mr. Becker possessed a great deal 
ol inlluence in the community, wliich was recognized 
outside of his own business circles. He was a stead- 
fast friend of every deserving business venture that 
looked to him for supp;)rt, helpful to all and often 
consulted relative to matters in which he had no 
direct (lersonal interest. His advice was frequentb 
sought .and always given with frankness and assur- 
ance of its being safely follosved. True to his 
convictions, steering his course i.i all matters without 
waiting to see what others were going to do, and 
then shouldering the responsibilities as tfiev came 
upon him, he forged ahead with absolute confidence 
in the results. 

In 1870 Mr. Becker married .Miss Catherine .\. 
Watkins of Waterloo. N. Y. Their children are 
Eliza (Mrs. George Kyle Win Sickle of .\uburn, N. 
Y.), the .Misses Katherine W'., .\nna M.. Florence and 
Cora Becker and Norman W. Becker. 

.Mr. Becker went abroad I'eb. i, iqoo, and died at 
Pera, a suburb of Constantinople, Turkev, the fol- 
lowing month, March 11. 

Merchants; F^arly in Seneca Falls — Col. Wil- 
lielmus -Mynderse, Simon Chapman, .\bijah .Mann, 
.-\nthony Dey, Henry Kellogg, .Abram and Samuel 
Payne, David B. Lum, Charles L. Hoskins, Erastus 
Partridge, Richard E. Gay, Wm. H. King, John S. 
Gay, John Isaacs, Stephen Wakelv, Storrs <S; Gilbert, 




RESIDENCE OF MRS. NORMAN H. BECKER. 



I 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAI S()r\-|\1R OK SENECA 1 Al.IS 



luhviird I.vnn. Jnhn West, Sarket iS; \'an Kfiisselair, 
Hivrkiah Kelly. Seiitcr M. ("liddiiigs. II. C. Silsby, 
llenrv I^lliDtt. Cienrge Shoemaker. Abel Miiwiis. 
Ileiirv Sevnii'iir. Sealimy S. Clcmld, 1'^. d. \" .1. IV 
jnliiisoM. K. (;. I'anlrs. ilniry l',.llai(l. Win, Krith. 
Inhii C Cli.ipiiiaii. 1. N. (.'hainiian. .Ic.Mali I.. Sli>il<- 
iiian. 1'^. I', riiniiias. Win. I'. Pollard, Job 'lunier. 
ilirani Twist, .laiins II. MeDonnld. Win. i;. Wheeler. 
I'harles O. Whartenby, Dwiglit H. Wilson, Henry C. 
Wisewell, E. J. Tvler, Howard Underbill. Charles 
MeOonald, Wni. B.' I.athroii. H. C. lilodgett. ■|h(un,is 
11. Baird; .lames U. I l.air. 

Seneca Lodge No. 104, K. of P.— Ihr 

Kinuiils of I'vtinas of Seneca balls was organized 
under a charter issued by the drand Lodge of the 
State of N'ew ^'ork. Sept. iX, i'S7J. It was to be 
known as Senet ;i Lodge Xt*. 104. 

'l"he lirst meeting was held .lune nj, 1X7 1. in thi' 
then Ciood 'I'emplars' hall on the third lloor of the 
Daniels building. The oHicers elected at the lirst 
meeting were: C. l-'rank Rradv past rhancelor. 



quarters in an endea\or to e.xeniplify the principles 
of the ordei. Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. 

The present ollirersare: Cieo. I'tlex master of work. 
\lbert P. Hanev chancelor conmriudn. .loci buller 
\ ice ch.tnceloi-. Harrv ( irosbeck prelate. |)r. 11, S. 
W.ildorl master-at-arms, Clias, i.'ollis keeper of 
recortis .nul seals, Edvwn'd W. ,\dtlison mastei of 
hnancr. l-red Teller master of e.\checiiier. \\"m. I)en- 
iiisoii inner guard. Clias. K. Coons outer guaril. 
jas. K. I''.astman delegate to Cirand Lodge and l)r- 
.1. S. i*urth' ])h\'sician. 

The Early Physicians in Seneca l'"alls and 
\icmil\ l)r, Iveubeii Long was here in i8of) and the 
same ye.ir Dr. Pitney settled at the Kingdom where 
he practiced two years and then removed to .\uburn. 
Dr. Mathias IV Bellows opened .111 ollice in Senec;i 
halls in 1S12 and practiced here until his de.-uh in 
i>ii4. Dr. Silas Keeler practiced here from i.sjo 
until 1867 and died here. Dr. Earnsworth, coming 
here in 1S20 remained hut a few years, .\bout iS:;^ 




I'rntleu, Photo. SENECA LODGE. NO. 104. KNlGHTts OF PYTHIAS. 

Top Row (left to rif;ht)-J. C. Simmons, Fred Teller, J. E. Fuller, Dr. J. S. Purdy, H. E Biimra, E. W. 
Addison. Middle Row— Dr. R. V. Covert, Charles CoUiss, T. H. T'tley, J. K. Eastman, W. A. S. Latham. 
Lower How-Dr. H. S. Waldorf, H. W, Grobeck, Charles Curtis, Wni. Dennison, A. P. Hanej. 



Nathaniel L. Benham chancelor commander. Chas. 
T. Silsbv vice commander. Reuben V . Butts prelate. 
Nelson Duntz master of exchequer. E. W. .\ddison 
keeper of records and seals, Ered M. Bellows master 
of hnance, C. H. Moore master-at-arms, W. S. Mur- 
r.iy inner guard, .\dolphus Goodman, outer guard, 
C. 11. Moore trustee si.\ months. Chas. T. Silsby trus- 
tee for twelse months aiid C. 1' . Pirady trustee for 
eighteen months. 

The Pythian Hall for a number of years occupied 
the fourth floor of the Hoskins block, corner of Fall 
and Cavuga streets. .Vfter the big fire the Knights 
of Pythias leased the fourth floor of the Daniels 
block before the building was completed. It was 
hnished off particularlv as lodge and entertainment 
rooms by the owner, Mr. George O. Daniels. The 
lodge rooms, ante- rooms and banquet rooms are 
admirably adapted for their use. Since that time the 
Knights have been ,it home to their friends in those 



or soon after, Drs. C. ti. Williams, Dayton, Hiram 11- 
Heath and .\mherst Childs began practice here. Dr' 
|. K. Brown came in 1834 and Dr. John S. Clark in 
i8jb. Dr. Thomas Swaby came in 1840 and prac- 
ticed here until his death in 1843. His brother Dr- 
Wm. .\. Swaby arrived in 1852 and practiced here 
thirty years. Dr. George W. Davis, coming in iSjft, 
was here several years. Eater physicians here were 
Dr. James Bellows, a surgeon in the army during the 
civil war who died in .\pril 1864: Dr. C. B. Howe 
who began practice in 1853 and several years later 
went into trade here; Dr. Elias Lester who began 
practice here in 1865 and is still "in the harness," 
Dr. Hiram J. Purdy who came in 1870; Dr. Rufus C. 
Dunham, beginning practice here in i860 and died 
here; Dr. Rvnear B. Covert who came in 1870 and is 
now in practice; and Dr. .'Alfred Eniens who came in 
1872 and died here. 



ro4 



■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVFiNIR OF SENFXA FALLS. 



Seneca Falls Historical Society. -Prior to 

iHqfi, their rxi'.ticl in Seneca I'alls a society for the 
sludv of poliliial economy, which' haxing completed 
its studv and its members, toijctlirr with others, 
desiring to engage in study along historical lines.and 
especially subjects of local historical interest, a meet- 
ing was held, Oct. 8, 1896, at the residence of Mrs. .\. 
M. Teller, ly Clinton street, for the organization of a 
society lor such purposes. 

In perfecting the ]ierm;uiint oigani/alioii the fol- 
lowing olViccrs were elected; President, .Mr. .lohn P. 
Chamberlain: I'lrst \'ice President, Miss Claribel 
Teller; Second \'ice President, .Mr. \V. W. Covvles; 
Secretary, Mr. 11. .\. Carmer; Treasurer, Mr. George 
HI. Cushiiig. .\ Committee was .appointed to draft a 
i-onstitution and by-laws for the society, and the 
membership was limited to hfty. By the constitu- 
tution as adopted, the name of the organization is 
the Seneca I'alls Historical Society; its object-,; 



lecture by out of town talent has been given under 
its auspices: and its educational influence upon its 
members and the public has been large and benelicial. 
.\pplication has been made for .a charter under the 
University Law, and it ise.vpected to be incorporated 
in the near future. Its present oliicers and directors 
are as follows: President, Mr. Harrison Chamberlain, 
\'ice President, Mr. IC. \Vm. .Medden; Secretary and 
Treasurer, Mr. -\. W. (jolder; nirectors: Mr. H. .\. 
Carmer, Miss Teller, .Miss Janet Cowing, Rev. H. 
Grant Person, Mrs. L. R. Sanford and Rev. Sheldon 
1'". T'r.'isier. 

Pioneers, T)istinguishetl m ()ld .limiiis in its 
Karlv Histor\. — Lewis Rirdsall, ,1 pioneer al "'The 
Kingdom, " the hr->t supervisor of Junius, conducted 
an inn there where town elections were frequently 
held. In 1804 he was appointed justice of the peace 
and March 3, 1808, sherilT. He served three alternate 
terms in that oHicr. In 1807 he was .ipjiointed M.ajor 




OFFICEKS ANU DIKECTUKS .SENECA FALLS HlisTORHAL SOCIETV. 
President, Harrison rhaml)eilaiu (centre portrait lower row); Vice-President, E. Wm. Medden (upper 
left handi; Secretary and Treasurer, A. VV. Golder (upper ritflit hand): H. A. Carmer, (lower left hand). Miss 
Claribel Teller (ne.xt to Mr. fariiier), Miss Janet Cowinjr (ne.xt t(i Mr. Chamberlain), Rev. H. Grant Person 
(ne.xt to Miss Cowing), Rev. Sheldon F. Frazier (centre of top row). 



( I) 'The study of local history; I2) 'The acquirement 
and preservation of papers and articles of local 
historic interest; (3) The systematic study of histor- 
ical subjects for mutual benefit and instruction. 

The society began its work by the study of the 
history of the ahoriginees of this section (The Senecas 
of the Six Nations), which- was followed by an eve- 
ning devoted to pre-historic .America, followed by a 
study of this country from its earliest knov.'n history 
to the present times. 'The work at present consists 
of the preparation of local history for publication 
and discussions of current topics. 'The meetings 
were held at first bi-monthly and now monthly. The 
society has had a flourishing career. It has held 
many jjublic meetings and has,vvritten and published 
much of our local history: an occasional public 



in Col. Daniel Sa\re's regiiiieiit. He erected a brick 
residence at The Kingdom in 1807, whicii he sidd to 
1'homas U. Lawrence in 1836. He came from 
Coluntbia county and was here as early as i.Soi. 
The dates of his birth and death are not given. 

Daniel Sayre, on the Romulus town records as 
early as lyqS, removed over to a farm near West 
C.-ivuga in 1804. He served, step by step, as captain, 
major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel in the militia 
and was second supervisor of .lunius. He was born 
in Orang,' Co., X. 'i'., 17!'^, and died near Cayuga 
li.idge, i-cb. 22, 1813. 

Jesse Southwick came to a farm near Dublin, now 
in the town of Junius, in 1798. Jesse, Samuel and 
David, three brothers, appear on the roll of voters, 
town of Favette, in i8or. He served as third super- 



•GUIFS ■ HISTORICAL SOUVKNIR OF SENliCA FALLS. 




"THE LONE FISHERMAN' i)N ( AVICA LAKK. 
A SUMMElt I[)YI, 

\i^ni i>I' Junius iiiitl in se\er;il other (.iHifes. IK' was 
limn in Siiringlield, Mass., in 17^8, and died in luniiis 
SejitiMnher. 1826. 

jaiiih Larzelerc, in 1.S0J, settled iiii.i l.irni near 
West C ivuga. He was eleeted tnwn clerk nf Junius. 
iS.j^L snpervisiir iNu. 1813 and i8iti; mender I'l 
asseniblv iSiO-'i;; and ser\ ed as slieritl i8i><- 14; f'lr 
^iveral years assnciatp judge of Common Pleas: and 
several times supervisor of Seneea I'"alls. He person- 
allv managed a large larm and surveyed many tracts 
of land and higliwavs. He v as born at Morristown. 
Morris C.I., N. J.,'l'eb j;, 1774. and died at \\'esl 
t'ayuga. Dec-. 1, 1843. 

(jen. Hugli W. Dobbins settled nortli of .Seneca 
lake p;ior to iSoo, served as colonel of the 102nd 
regiment of infantry in the war of 1812, and was 
advanced to brigadier-general. Before his enlist- 
ment he kept a public inn. In iS|.i li.. -riM ,11-. 

Cieneva, where he died Sept. 20, 
i8,5, in his X8th year. 

lohn I'urton came to Junius 111 
i>-'ioand taught school near Tyr- 
tvvo \ears. t_He ser\'ed on th- 
Niagara frontier in 1812 — si.v 
vears after coming from Man- 
chester, Eng.; and in 1813 settled 
at Waterloo village, where he 

practiced law and survesed. He 
died March 6, 1847. 

Dr. Thomas C. .Magee was a 
veteran member of the board of 
supervisors, serving some years 
Irnm Junius and many years from 
Tyre. He came from Washington 
county, X. Y., about 181 2. He 
was born Jan. 17, 1780, and died 
Dec. 10, iNbo. 

Israel W. Squires served three 
terms as supervisor from Junius 
and three terms from Seneca 
I'alls. He served as sherifl two 
terms of three years each. He 
was born at Chatham, Morris 



Co., \". J., Feb. 13, 171)0, and died in Seneea F.ilU, 
J.in. 25, 1831. 

1 lelir\ .Moses was one of the eai lir-sl settlers I 1,S().S| 

iM.M till' west end (if C.i\uga bridge, where he farmed, 
ilid lilacksmithmg and for twi'iit\ \'ears conductiMl a 
tavern, I le was supervisor from Junius at diflerent 
limes and wms sherill' i832-'4. He was born in Ches- 
ter count). I'a., .\ug. 16, 1784, and died in the town 
of layette. Dee. 13, 1880, at the venerable age n|,)ii 

A. W. Golder ' ipeiied his optical parlors in the 
< lolder building, si.v years ago. The examination 
loniii IS well equipped with optie.il instruments anil 
espei i,-i I ly arranged for scientific fitting of the eyes. 
A complete lense grinding department makes it pos- 
sible to replace complicated lenses on short notice. 
Mr. (iolder enjoys the distinction of having the only 
exclusively optical oHice in the city and has won an 
enviable reputation for careful and accurate work. 
Ills mailing list extending over a large territorv'. Mr. 
(inkier has held the ofhces of secretary and president 
of the New York .State .\ssociation of Opticians and 
Is now the vice president of the Optical Society of 
the St.ite of Xew ^'ork. 

Venerable Newrspaper --.Next to the oldest 
iiruspaper iHiblished in Seneca countv' is the Water- 
loo ()bser\iT, which w-as first issued in 1826, and has 
heeii published continuously ever since. It has 
alwa\s been ;i sterling democratic new spaper, as well 
as .an excellent recorder of local happenings of the 
comity seat and the county in general. On Sept, 1. 
1800, the ollice was purchased of Hon. W'illi.iiii li, 
Clark bv S. H. c't L. W. Ferenbaugh, experienced and 
pr:ictical newspaper men, and at once U\ok rank as 
one of the leading Democratic weekly papers of this 
state. Louis W. F'erenbaugh, the editor of The 
Observer, was one of the eirganizers of the New York 
State Democratic ICditorial .\ssociation and is ,it 
p'resent senior vice president of that organization. .\ 
well equipped job printing department is connected 
«ith the otlice. 

First Canal Boat. -On June 14, 1818, the Im ks 
of the Seneca Lock .Navigation Co. at Seneca falls 
were first thrown open for boats and the passage of 

.1,. i..-.i I,.;., I.., I l..,-,t „'.,. „it,,.'-^.'d by se\'eral people. 




INTEKIOR V 



lEW OF A. VV. (JOLDER'S OPTICA!, PARI^ORS, 
E.STARMSHED 1898. 



io6 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA l-AI.I.S. 




il.i. l',i.,A|. 


111 


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.KISIAH T. MIIJ.KK. 

Josiah T. Miller w.i^ l"'iii iii jpiii 
II, jNjii. \ltrr ( .)ni|ilrtin,L; .i inursr . 
In llir A.:uliMii\ ;il lilcMlili.-lil, l>:i., li< 
Vcirk .iikI at tlic aur ■>! ninc-ti-i-n cstablishecl tlic 
Spucci 1;i11s lie 111. r.il, ■>!' whirli Inr nine sears he 
was till- sole edit. ir. When he attained his majority 
he was I leeted a justire '.I the peace and for ei^ht 
years discharged the duties i.l hi-. Inst pidilic trust. 

During thi-- period he applied himself to the stud> 
of law and t....k an aetivi- part in polities. In 0X44 
he Inst sal as a deh-gate in the I leinoeratic Conven. 
tion of his couiilv, and f.ir more than thirty years 
was regularly a member of that bodx'. lie had like- 
wise been a delegate to many ot the C.mgressional, 
Senatorial and .ludieial Conventions of his party. and 
was a prominent member of the National Conven- 
tions held at Cincinnati and Chicago. In ilSt.^ (Ion - 
ernor Seymour appointed him Inspector-Cieneral ol 
the State' and during his term of service covering two 
momentous years, he ]ierfonned. 
the arduous duties of that ollice 
with rare ability and intelligence 

He was a trustee of the Si-neca 
Ealls .\cadeniy and drafted tlu- 
statute creating the Hoard of 
Education of Seneca I'alls, of 
which he was the lirst president 
and for several terms an aitive 
member. 

He was a devoted adherent of 
the Episcopal church and acted as 
vestryman ot Trinity church from 
his twenty-first year until the 
time of his death. 

He was one of the original 
incorporators of St. John's School, 
Manlius, N. '^'., and f.n' many 
years a trustee. 

He was active in organizing 
the Seneca Woolen Mills, and one 
of the incorporators of the Na- 
tional Exchange Hank of Seneca 
Falls, and a director and its legal 
adviser until his death. SENECA HOUSE. 



He was countv judge and surrogate in iSt.^. ami 
ineiiiber of ;issembl\ and chairman of the judiciars' 
loniniittee in i.'^'.S, before whi.h time he had held 
the oHlie of district attornev. fie had also been the 
e.intlidate of his party for justice of the supreme court 
in the seventh judicial district of the state. Before 
his retirement lie was a Inited States commissioner 
f. >r several vears. 

On Sept. I, l!^47. he married .\ugusta day King, 
daughter of William H. King, whose family origi- 
nally from Sharon. Conn., traces its ancestors back 
to i(iLje). from inscriptions on the grave stones still 
standing in the old homestead burying ground in 
that place. In 1883 .ludge Miller removed to Water- 
loo, and in the following year was stricken with 
apoplexy on liis return from a cherished trip to the 
home of his boyhood. He died in September, 1884. 
His funeral was held from St. Paul's iliurch in 
Waterloo with interment at Restvale cemetery in 
.Seneca Falls, during which time the business places 
were closed ;is ;i mark of respect. 

He was largely inteiested in Seneca Falls pro)ierty, 
and besides owning the City Mills and the Clinton Mill 
water power at his death, his holdings on Fall street, 
included the brick blocks known as the Seneca House 
and Skidmore buildings at i)(. .J3 and 47 Fall street, 
the I'ailing buiUling. occupied by Waller's hardwari- 
store at 112 1- ,ill stri-et. and tin- .\rmitage block at 
(.| I- , ill street. These properties still remain 111 the 
l.iiiiiK. .111(1 ..iir of his sons ami nami-sake, \b . I. I . 
Miller, built the .\lilh-r block at lo'.-ioS ;ind 1 n. hall 
slri-el. adjoining the lading Iniihhng. in 187.8. 

.\rter the big lire ot .luh 30. 18 ui, tli.-i I destroyed 
so many line buildings on I'.ill ;ind State stn-ets. 
including the Daniels Opera Hou^e and H..ag's 
Hotel, his son, J. T. Miller, eoitinued in the loot- 
steps of bis father by ereiting in i.8i)i the King Block 
occupying the sites oLtlie Opera House and Norcolt 
block 'at Nos. 1 18 to Ij8 I'.ill street. In the h.llow- 
iiig ve;ir, i8ij2, he built the Opera house bl.iik .'it 
Nos .' to 10 Stall- street, in the construction ..f which 
a lire proof passage was built in the center, 111 tin- 
hope of utilizing the rear lot for a new opera house 
at no distant date. 

In the year 1.844 he built the substantial steel frame 
building at Nos. lU) to 127 I-'all street, known as the 
Columbus block, and in hjOI the Century block at 
Nos. 148 to 132 l-'all street, the site of the'old street 
car depot on the corner of hall and Mynderse streets. 

.\l the present time, 1404, he is building a business 
bl.K k on the site of the Deskv building that col- 




SKIll.MOKK ltlIU)lNi; 



■•(iRll'S HISTORICAL SOL'VKNIR OF Sli.NKCA KVI.l.S. 



r 




.n^.-. 




T 




^ * 




^^^^^^^^^^i '' "*" 




^^H^ 


^ 

i; 


^HHft 


;,; 



J. T. MH,LBK. 



lapsed in Iijoi. al Xn^. iii ,iinl ii; lall ,stn 
Tlii-se stores will he iiiddels of llirir kind, liavins Ini- 
prniif vaults Iniilt from the native roel< foinidation, 
stenni heat and power elevator to reach the se\eral 
basements. In the constniction of Nfr. Miller's build- 
ings the liie lia>;ard has always been considered with 
a view of securing a minimum rate of insurance. 

In 1897 Mr. Miller installed a private electric plant 
with duplicate dynamos, run by water or steam, with 
a capacity of 1000 lights, that enables him to furnish 
current for light and power independent of the local 
company. He also has a central heating plant and 
water system that reaches the various properties. 

.Mr. Miller has unlimited conhdence in Seneca Falls 
and believes that with its now constant water power 
and permanent factories continually being enlarged, 
it will increase in population sulHcient to enable it 
to apply for a city charter long before the next 
federal censu... 

Curious Relic. -Miss Hascom has in her possess- 
ion a curnius souvenir relating to 
the tragic fate of "Indian .lohn," 
a history of which appears on 
another page. It is a sheet ol 
printed verse; as the headlim s 
say: "Poetry on the death of 
Fzekial Crane and Execution ol 
Indian John,' Composed bv.Iasoii 
Smith: and Sung bv him al a 
Concourse of Young Persons 
Convened at a House near the 
Spot where the Tragic Scene was 
F.nacted: ,Iune, 181S." 

Old Postoffice buildnig — In 
I'^jti the jiostortice had its quar- 
ters in a one-storv building, with 
pillars supporting its front, on 
the ground where now stands the 
store of Sidney L. .Monroe. There 
were ft\e steps from the street t. . 
the door. The postmaster was 
John Morg.in, a Lawyer. FAILING lil'ILDINll 



Pre-Historic; .\ncient Civilization m Seneca 
<-".; 1)1,1 forts in Ovid and Tyre; Immense 
Works at Cross Lake; Traced to the Ninth Cen- 
tur\ . 

Ci\ili/cd .Hcup.ition of S(-neca county as \\cll ,is 
all ..f \'e« ^'ork state bordering Lake Ontario and 
uK-liKling {-entr.al and western portions has been 
traied to a large i-olonization of finiis, Danes and 
Welshmen, who in the eighth and ninth centuries 
gradually moved south from Iceland, Cheenland and 
l.aborador to the St. Lawrence, rmd crossing that 
liver spread themselves out along the south shores of 
Lakes Ontario and Erie. 

Dr. .Mitchell (Archrp. Amer.) hoiu u Idiu thr f,,L 
lowing facts are largely taken, calls ihi^ the c..uiilr\ 
111 the Ontario — that region especiallv described by 
liim .IS the .Antipodal Regions of the eighth -awA 
lunth centuries, where the Scandinavians crossing 
from Europe to north eastern America and migrat- 
ing southwest, and the fierce Tartars crossing from 
Asia to northwestern .America and migrating to the 
southeast met in bloody conflict which resulted in 
the e.xtinction of the Scandana\ ians. Seven cen- 
turies later, the French sent tln'ir .lesuits down into 
this country and found the .American Indian, who 
had descended from ;i rai-e of Malavs, which they in 
a sense reseml:)le. 

The earliest settlers in .Seneca c ounl\, and in fact 
through all of this section, found mounds and earth- 
works; strange implements of war and crockerv 
which they sometimes even plowed up in their fields. 
P.irticularly along Seneca riser large I'arth- 
works, from which h;id sprung trees several centuries 
old, were disc, t\-f'r,'il. 

"( )n 111,' I'astern shore of .Seneca riser si\ miles 
south of Cross lake," says a writer, "the renmant of 
ancient defence was discovered as late as 1791." 
riiere was found a fort described as "220 yards in 
length and jj yards in breadth. The bank and cor- 
responding ditch I moat j were rem.arkablv entire, as 
were two aperatures | in the enbiinkment] opposite 
e.ach other in the middle of .1 [larallelogram, one 
,i[)ening to the water and the other facing the forest. 
\bout one-half mile south of this was a large half- 
moon supposed to have been an outwork. The 
b.inks and ditch of both these works were covered 




Mn,LKR:nLOCK, ICiVlli Fall Stnel. 



io8 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOI'VENTR OK SENFXA FALLS. 




DAMELt; (ll'ERA HI)^^^E, Hiilneil July :)». IWU. 
with trees that exhibited estieinit\ cif age." Inside 
of the larger work was fcuiiid a flat stcnie, five feet 
long, three and one-half feet wide and six inrlves 
thick. On the surface of this stoni' was the delinea- 
tion .'f all shaped ligiires supposed to have been 
hieroglvphical and engraved as with a chisel." One 
of the visiting party fi/fij "dug up with his cane a 
piece of earthen vessel which from the con\exity of 
the fragment he supposed might have contained two 
gallons; it was well burned, of a reil color and had 
its upper edge indented as with the finger in its 
impressicmable state." These remains were con- 
sidered unequalled by the greatest discovered any- 
where in the I'nited States. 

In Pompey were discovered \estiges of a town 
covering 500 acres, protected by three circular or 
eliptical forts eight miles distant from each other. 

In Camillus were two forts one covering three 
acres on a high hill. Remains of great forts were 
also found near Manlius, as well as in the town of 
Onondaga, one in Scipio, two near .\uburn, and as 
the writer says, several between 
Seneca and Cayuga lakis. 

In the liiwii of ( )\ id are the n-- 
niains of an am lent fortilication. 
the timber on the inside l)eiiig 
of the same size and apparent age 
of that in the immense trees in 
the surrounding forest. I'pon 
the bank and in the ditch large 
oak trees were standing. In tlie 
embankment were several open- 
ings a few feet in width, which 
were probably once used for gates 
or entrances. Inside of the em- 
bankment were found pie( es ol .1 
coarse kind of pottery, ornan eii- 
tal pipes, etc. DeWitt Clinton, 
governor of New York. \ isited 
this place in iKio, and his ihei.r\ 
was similar to tliat ,il>o\r 
described. 

Rev. Pul.iski Smith, residing m 
the town of Tyre slated at a public 
meeting of the Historical Societx 



of Seneca Falls that a short distance from his homr 
then was a similar "old fort;" that the timber grow- 
ing within and without the embankment was of the 
s.inie size and evidently of the same age; thai at 
the openings there were liea\y stoii" abutments, as 11 
lieavv gates had been made by niasimry, and th.il 
excavations unearthed the same kinds of pottery as 
had been found at or near Ovid. Mr. Smith said 
further that he once \"isited a like fortilicatiim near 
Savannah, 'in a bluH overlooking the Senec. ri\er as 
well ,is ihr surrounding country; that the same mn- 
ditions existi'd there as :it Ovid anil Tyre. 

Early La-wyers. li. \ • Sackeii, who is skeUhed 
I Uew here, wa~ ihi- lirst lawyer here. I.ulher I'. 
Sle\ ells I aiiie ni i.SiOaiul was Saekett's p.irtiic'r lor a 
liiiir. (iov. ^"ates appointeil him the lirsl judge of 

the Court of Com 11 I'leas. Ansel Bascom .ind 

\sliiT Tyler rame in iSj- .-ind were partners lor a 
leu M-.irs, I'lasroiii was a large land owner here. 
()i\ill II. I'lalt eame in iMjij and with Isaac Fuller 
louiiiled the Seneca County Courier in iS^h. 
Stiptien S. \'iele came here in iSjo and practiced 
until his death in iHdo. lohn Morgan, who w.as for 
a time ^■iele's partner, came in iS^j. He was lor 
awhile the surrogate of the lounly. Win. \. Sackett, 
successivelv law partner of .ludge Maynard and 
Charles H. Weed, served in Congress from this dist- 
rict, lulward Bayard and lUisha i'dote, partners 
several years, came in i?<34. Judge F'oote sir\edas 
commissioner of patents under President .lolinson. 
Dexter C. Bloomer practiced here from 1835 to 1857. 
.lohn Mavnard, established here in in 1835, was after- 
wards .lustice of the Supreme Court, josiali T. 
.Miller, coming here when lifteen years old attended 
the Seneca Falls public schools and was admitted to 
the bar in 184J. .kidge Miller, who was County 
.ludge in i8b4-'8 procured the passage of the act of 
the incorporation of the present school district. 
Charles H. Weed began the study of law here in 
184S. Henrv B. Stanton came here to practice in 
184K. .lohn B. Murrav studied law here and was 
admitted to practice in 1852. Samuel 1). Tillman 
came here when a boy about 1834. Benson Owen 
came here in 184S and died at h"s residence here in 
iSyj. Willi.ini Burroughs pra -ticed here as lale as 
1871. 

Simon Halton came here in i><5-. studied with S. 
S. Mele and was .idmitted to ihe bar in 1S33. He 




KING BLOCK. I18-12,s Kail Street, tinilt 18!il. (Site of Daniels Openi House.) 



-CklfS" HlSTOKICAl. SOUVENIR (II- SKXHCA I'ALLS. 



lOy 



fMA' 






f^ Olp^"'; JR 



««»-*«eW,'<al.^ 



A l{(l| >i: 111,' H K 



-III >l:,l,' -III 



-i.t H.- U 

\ e;irs, I Ic 



IS pijsl- 

liied ill 



,•1 Falls 
4. He 



w.is assislanl iirincipal nl llir aracliniy and aftcr- 
warils primipal cif thr Liinmi -.ihnoU. lie was a 
uieiiiber of the lirst board of edui ation, its rlerk and 
the superintendent of the dist 
master in iHIk), for aliout Imn 
]■ et)rLiar\', 1^77. 

Jolni A. Ainias ol Cazeiio\ la practiced here in 
i^^oj-'^. and then uent back. Sanford R. TenKyck 
was admitted to practice here in December, 1861, 
and practiced only a year. John .\. vValler, Nathan- 
iel 1^. Benhani, William K. Miller, i-'rank C. .\very 
and William .1. Hughes were among the practicioners 
who were here later. 

William Clark came to Seneca halls in 1831), 
studied with Bayard & loiote, was admittetl in 
1N44 and practiced law here for years. He was cre- 
ated Master of Chancery by Chancellor Walworth. 

Ciilbert Wilco.\en was a child when he hrst saw 
Seneca i-ouiitv. He was graduated at Hamilton, 
studied with Judge Miller and was admitted in i(~>34. 
He served as County Judge. 

Peter H. \'an.Vuken in iSdi came to Seiic 
and was a partner with (ien. Murray in iSoj 
served as Countv Judge. 

Charles H. Hawley.one of the oldest ol the | 
practicioners in law, began here, 
Jan. I, 1864, and was a partner 
with Judge Miller until 1877. 
He defended in several suits for 
canal claims against the state 
vears ago. 

Jasper N. flammontl, also one 
of the veteran lawyars at present 
enjoving a large practice, came 
here in i8fifi, studied with C. H. 
Weed and was admitted in i8fn). 

Patrick J. Rogers and Cieorge 
W . Pontius were admitted to 
practici- here in i8f>cj. 

The Church Edifice "ft he 
first Congregational Societ\': 
llow Money was Raised to iSuild 
It; .\ Resort to Life Insurance 
on its .Members. — [See general 
history of the Society on page 
43]. — The following facts are 
taken from an interesting paper 
written liy .Mr. E. Medden: — After 
the incorporation of the snc-etv. 



I'ec. 17, 1869, it was decided to 
build at once. .V lot was pur- 
chased from Or. Davis for S 3.500, 
he donating $.500 of that amount. 
.\fter the church was finished and 
dedicated, Sept. 21, 1871, the fol- 
lowing committee was appoint- 
ed to secure funds: Rev. W. W. 
I.yle, Wm. I.. Bellows and Dr. R. 
Dunham. .\ loan was obtained 
from the Berkshire Life Insurance 
Company, of Massachusetts, on 
condition, lirst, that the members 
of the society should secure seve- 
ral individual life insurance 
policies; second, that an endow- 
ment policy of §j,ooo should be 
secured upon some individual for 
the church. This amount was to 
be used to help cancel the debt. 
The bondsmen were Charle.s 
Seekell, Horace Seekell, William 
III |,,|. Piellows, William King and 

ICdwin Medden. 
S])eakers ohtamed at different times for that ]iur- 
pose succeeded in securing pledges sutlicient to (ex- 
tinguish the debt, but a large number of them failed 
to UKike goc>d, anil for three years the bondsmen paid 
the interest, 8980, on the loan. Finally, by previous 
agreement, the mortgage was foreclosc-d and at the 
sale held at the Hoag House the bondsmen bid it in, 
giving the Berkshire companv a new mortgage for 
S 10,000 without a bond and making over the prop- 
ertv to the church societv. -At the same time the 
bondsmen paid what was due on the first mortgage, 
iiearlv {^7,000. 

.\fter another struggle the churches of the Congre- 
gational bodv of the New York state and several of 
our most proniinent citizens came to the rescue. 
Among these kind friends were H. C. Silsbv. .\lbert 
Jewett, J. B. Johnson, H. W. Knight and others. At 
last tlie societv succeeded in freeing the i liurch from 
debt, lulv 3, 1881. It is so to-dav. Shortlv after, 
-Mr. J.'B."jiilinson in his will don.ited 82,000" for the 
support of ihr ( hurcli. This is now invested in a 
fjarsonage. 

County Stenographer.— In 18S4 Miss Teller 
entered the l.iw olhce of Hon. Charles .\. Hawley as 
.1 stenographer, biaiig the first stenographer employed 




('(il.f.vinrs liLitrK, ini-l-.'T Fail street. Imilt |s!'4. 



•GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




When 
were to be 
iini SI) well 



FRKn TELLEli. 

Hisloi-ii-al L'cjnti-itiutor to "Gnirs" Histiiriinil 

Sotivenii' itl" StMiL'ra Kails. 

ill a law nlli.c 111 till' iMuntv. As the dr-iiiand for 
sliortliami work in the i-oiiiit> was created, she was 
able to assist the attorneys, and to a limited extent 
some of the manufacturing establishments 
referenies ami testimony in patent suits 
reported her services were in di-ui.ind, 
was her work appreciated that during the terms of 
.ludge \'an Auken and .ludge Hazelton she did all of 
the reporting for the Surrogate's Court. In iSqfi, 
when Judge Richardson took olViceshe w asappointed 
official stenographer for the County and Surrog.ite's 
Courts. Under Mr. Hawley's appointment as referee 
in bankruptcv. she reports contested cases in this 
countv and also in Wayne and Yates 
counties. These different positions she has 
held continuously. Such is Miss Teller's 
reputation outside the count) that she has 
been called upon ti) supply the place .if 
Supreme Court stenographer. Miss Teller 
is a member of the New '^'ork State Sten- 
ographers' .Association (the foremost organ 
ization in the country) and also of tin 
Xational Shorth.ind Reporters' \ssoci;ition 

The Old Edifice of ilic 1 nsi llapUst 
church society, a \ iew i>f which is on |iagr 
.S7, w.is completed and d^dic.ited .May ;,o, 
1830, a little less than two years after the 
hrst step was taken to organize the sociit\. 
The cost of the building was .Sj,otx). ol 
which there rem.ained .in indebtedness ol 
^ioiy. The building li;i(l a liasemeiil, 
which for a time was lirst used for ,1 
school,,! steejile and an Ionic front willi 
four pillars. Tlir interior contained fifty 
pews and there were i-le\ ated g.alleries 
.iround three siiles. Here in th<- sumnic 1 
of iSi7 was held a monster revival wh cli 
i-ven closed the stores at night. .Mtliough 
550 people could find seats in the church 
an out-of-door platform erected against 
the south side accommodated a great nuni\ 
more for whose beneht the windows were 
removed. The revival, which was conducted 
bv ICvangelist Jacob Kn.ipp, continued 



live weeks and 200 people publicly professed conver- 
sion. This building afforded the society a comfortable 
home for almost forty years when it was replaced liv 
the present structure, dedicated March 4, iSfn). 

Fred Teller was born in Seneca Falls and at- 
tended the village schools. He is a member of a 
number of societies and organizations, and takes 
deep interest in documentary, colonial and early his- 
torv. .Mr. Teller has quite a library as well as man\ 
curios and articles pertaining to those subjects. He 
owns the historic building on a point of Land jutting 
into Cavuga lake, known as "Stiniy Ledge, " which 
building was p.irt of the old toll house of the Cayuga 
liridge Co. On .\ug. J, 1X72, Mr. Teller established 
the furniture business in an unpretentious way, hav- 
ing then, at the age of eighteen, just learned the 
trade of upholsterer. Two years later, in the spring 
of 1S74, he leased the second floor of the \'reeland 
building. Subsequenth" lie increased the accomnio- 
d.itions bv leasing for .'i term of years of Dr. C. 1>. 
Clawson the vacant lot between the \'reeland Huihl- 
ing and the Exchange National Bank on which was 
erected the building Mr. Teller now occupies. He 
moved into it in Oecember, 1877, hlling the big 
structure with a complete line of furniture, cabinet 
ware, etc., making the largest furniture store in the 
village. Even then more room was soon after neednl 
;ind a brick building was erected in the rear for 
his use; then still .mother one in the rear of tin- 
others was built, .\dding many new lines in dr,i|i- 
eries. upholsterv goods, rattan ware, caljinet hard- 
ware, room and picture mouldings, window sh.ades, 
etc., his accommodations were still inadequ.ite .•ind 
so he purchased the building .and secured additional 
room bv making .alter.itions and farther .additions, 
until now he h;is a business second in size to no other 
ill the countv. 




lilISlvV IJl.iH K Ul I.N.s. 
iillapsed in 19()1 (photci taken the 



■•tlKIF'S' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol' SENF.CA FALLS. 




(iolUHS li. STKARXS. 

Gordis R. Stearns v\;is Ixini in West Clir^liT- 
hrld, \, II,. N-.\. jii, 1X4(1. His early years were 
sjii-nl nri a rami iluriiiii' which he receixeii a (■miiiiion 
srjlon] educ.ltiiin. .\lter e< iiii j)leting his sUidi -s he 
spent some time in the Simth, then returned U> his 
nati\e \ illage and married l-dla C, the daughter nl 
I', li. \lliee. in the year 1.S7J. Siicn alter, they 
iiio\ed til Huston, .Mass., where Mr. .Stearns hmml 
iin|i|ii\ nieiit. .\fter living; there nearly hfteen years 
llie\ iiiiivpcl to .Seneca |-'.dls. Mr. h.. I'. ( Ue.isi m, a 
\\ialth\ nianiilacturer, wlm was an Lini^e nl Mr. 
Stearns, owning the ("ile.asnn knitting mill, appointed 
him superintendent wiiic h pnsitinn he held nntil the 
nulls were closed at the time nl the great hnanrial 
|iaiiii. Mr. Stearns was then appointed manager of 
the lileason coal yard and he hlled that position up 
111 the time of the death of .Mr. (jleason wliicli 
incurred September, moi. .Mr. Stearns then became 
prii))rieloj of the \ards and carried on the ( oal luisi- 
ness to the lime of his death, which occairred Jan. 'i, 
iijoj. Since that time his widow and their adopted 
il.iughter have continued the business. Soon alti r 
riirning to Seneca halls Mr. and Mrs. St-arns united 
with the Congregational church, and soon alter .Mr. 
Stearns was elected trustee, the duties of which he 
faithfullv perhirmed until his death. He was ,1 very 
conscientious man, a great lover of bis home ami 
church and one who always had a good word and 



smile hir evervbody. 
dealings. 



! le w as honorable in .ill In 



David Budd Lum w 

ii.lllltv. \. I.. S.pl ]-,. 
Lum, c.'imi tn this jihi 
i.Sod, crossing L .i\ iiga l;i 
settled nil the land n 



Is burn 111 Chatham, Morris 
iS,,v His father. David 
e with his familv in Ma\ , 
ce oil the liist bridge. I le 
\ kiiiesn .IS the Mxiiderse 



farm, lot number N:,, , ,n the Spring lirook roail, 
I'^arK' in life \oun,g IWiiid learned the hatters" trade, 
and in Oct., 1SJ7, he beg.an business for him^idl. 
Iriim that date until 1N4J, he individually, or in 
ciimpany with Crandall Kenyon, furnished the bead 
gear for the whole m.ale population. He then retired 
from active business, and for nearh" fifty \ears was 
not engaged in aiiv special pursuit, denial, kind 
hearted, alwavs hioking on the bright side, possess- 



ing an exbanstless fund of humor and anecdotes, Mr. 
I um was a welcome companion for \oung and old 
alike. Proud of his acquaintance with our early 
settlers, tie was ever ready to picture the life of those 
|)ioneers, basing his statements on peisonal know- 
ledge or on the best evidence obtained from otiier 

souri-es. 

In iSyl) .Mr. Lum organized the first Historical 
Society of Seneca Falls, and was elected its president. 
.\ssociate<l with him were Josiah T. Miller, William 
P. Pollard, Abram Failing, Henry Henion and a few 
others. For this society Mr. Lum wrote a series of 
valuable articles called "Olden Times in Seneca 
Falls," the storehouse from which all succeeding 
w Titers have drawn their material. Mr. I.um's know- 
leilge of local historv frequently prompted the saying 
that he could give the tlaTe that the water was let 
into Cavuga lake. 

In 1^31 Ml'. Lum married Fallen Perrine, of Canoga, 
and in January, 1881, on the fiftieth anniversary of 
his wedding, his old-time friends and neighbors 
assembled at bis residence on Cayuga street to tender 
their congratulations. No couple in the conimuuitv 
had a w-ider circle of acquaintances and their d mrs 
were alwavs hospitably opened to former residents 
visiting their old home. All else might change with 
the passing ^•e;lrs but Mr. Lum remained ever vomtg. 
He was llie one f imiliar landmark that all gladly 
recognized. 

In the summer of 1S81) .Mr. Lum became seriously 
ill and was taken to the city hospital in Rochester 
for treatment. There on F'riday, .\ug. i), 1S89, he 
died — the last of his family. I'he funeral service was 
held in the Prfsbvterian church of Seneca Falls on 
Monday, .\u.g. u. the Rev. F.dwiii M. Dic-kinson 
ofliciating. 

"The Countryman," a semi-monthlv pajni, 
was pulihsiiid .11 Seiiei ,-1 Falls during i8(«i. .\ co|iv 
ilateil ( )i t. 20, 18(10, \'iil. 1, No. 4, gives Ansel I (as- 

ci nil .IS editor and ])ropriptor and says that it is "pub- 
lished semi-monthlv until after the ne.\t election." 
from an editori.al in this issue it appears evident that 
its aim was a reform in taxation .md iiuident 
thereto opposition to influence of raihd.iils m legis- 
lation 



"5? 



«. 



inf 




DAVID B. LUM. 



■■(;kII'S- IllSTORICAI. SOlVKNIli OF StN'ECA FALLS. 



fe^fll* 




T. U HAIIU) 
Thomas B. Baird u^i-- 



lllr l„-t 

Senefa I'aIN 
established ,i 
{•antile estabi 



w I 



,111(1 llhr-,1 

1 llr ,li-v K' 
<l 111.1(1 

ihnienl^ 



or sc\ cral \('ars une cf 

iicccssriil iiicrchaiit'- "I 

ids business wllirli lie 

(if tile leailint; raei- 

tlie \illage, was left at 



ne 



the time (if his death en a snuiid ;ind paying basis, 
-.(.well and lirnily ri.dled in the good will (if the 
public that it has since been ciindiicted on the same 
high plane .it \ii. 73 I'.all street, by his estate imdev 
the management nf liis fdinier eiii|iliivees. who have 
increased the Inismess u, its iiicsenl large propor- 
tions. It is a large store with twc lloors comprising 
several hundred square feet dl >.pa( ( capable of dis- 
playing to advantage the large stock that is always 
carried. On the main Moor are dry goods, notions 
and fancy goods, complete in styli- and v;iriet\-. and 
on the other Moor is the deiiartiiunt lur ( arpets, mat- 
ting, rugs, etc. 

-\lr. Baird was burn in Cayuga c(uinty in i.S3;,aiul 
came to Seneca I'alK in lt^v^. 
He entered the store nf Wm. B. 
Lathrop where he was a clerk 
until 1864. Then he enlisted 111 
the 148th Regiment and ser\eil 
in thf campaigns i^if his regiment 
until the close of tlie war. Three 
years ensuing he lived in Wolcott, 
X. Y., then returned to Seneca 
l''alls and became .1 partner with 
Wm. B. l.athrop. In iHy j, he 
established the business of his 
own and in Hec, iHHq, he pur- 
chased the Blodgett building 
which he htted u]) and moved 
into in .April, iSijo, the present 
location of his store. Here Ik 
carried on trade, an active and 
capable business man tn the time 
of his death, which occurred M;i\ 
JO, iHgS. 

The Reveille speaking in llii- 
highest terms of Mr. Ilairtl at 
the time of his death said; "He 
was a man of excellent habits, 
tireless industrv and remark.iblc 



enterprise. He was lull of sympathetic liel|)fulness. 
a staunch friend, and many were the hours made 
brighter liv his kindness ard benefactions. Nothing 
linniau or of human interest was alien to his feelings 
(irhis sympathies. He was an active and valued 
( itizen as well as a kind and generous townsman. 
In his intercourse with the world he was frank, 
nianlv and outspoken. He was public spirited and 
possessed that rectitude of spirit and straightforward 
w.-iv iif accomplishing his objects which distinguished 
(rue manhood and absolute moral worth." 

Incorporated Sem ca I'alls received a \ ill.igc 
1 haiii r, April jj. i^u. and en the first .Monda\ 111 
\l,i\ liilldu ing, \nsel liasciiiii w.is clidsen president- 
I he (barter w as amended 1 y an act of the legislature, 
\prll J4, i''^^;, wliicli proxided for .1 pri^sident, si\ 
trustee? — three from each ward two assi ssors, diic 
police constable and two street commissioners elected 
bv the people, and a clerk and a treasurer appointed 
bv the trustees, .lohn L. Bigelow was first president 
afterwar<ls. The board of trustees were then ICbi n 
iver Ingalls, Whiting Race and .Asa Starkweather, 
lirst ward, and Franklin B. Latham, Carleton W. 
.Seeley and .leremv Bennett, second ward; police con- 
stable, David B. Luni; assessor, Isaac Smith: stn i 1 
commissioners, George B. Daniels, hrst ward, .and 
Theodore Chapin, second ward. 

In iSfio a new charter was enacted by the legis! ■ 
ture bv w-hich the \lllage was divided into lour 
wards, each ward to elect two trustees. When tin- 
xillage adopted the general charter for villages ol the 
state, bv .in act of the legislature in l>!(^t), the lour 
wards were .abolished so far as the election of trustei s 
are concerned, the board theresifter being elected, twd 
each vear bv the village at large. t"ieographicall>. 
however, the village has at each subsequent electidii 
chdsen trustees practically on the ward ])lan witlidul 
hd\\( vcr, sd designating them. 

Musicians in early days. Music was luriiislicd 
111 caiK da\s bv Ralph Sotiiers, lather of Henry and 
R.ilph Siimers, the suns as well as the father li.iving 
musical talent. With Mr. Somers were associated 
Mr. Fairchild, the jeweler, who played a violin, .and 
Mr. Wheeler, partner and brother-in-law uf .Mr. 
Silsbv. was eN])ert on the violoncello, the trid was 
al\\a\s 111 demand. 




T. 1). H.AIHD'S t)KV GDOIIS STORK. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SKM'CX KALLS. 



113 




r. 11. wicEi). 

Charles H. Weed was burn in thr town oi 
Springport, Cnyuga Cn., in 1822, and was niarried 
at the age of twenty-one to Miss Sarah Miller cif the 
same town. They had one child, a daughter, now 
Mrs. T. J. Vawger of this village. About 1830 
Seneca Falls became the residence of Mr. Weed 
where he afterwards resided until the time of his 
death. Xov. 15, 1883. Nine years after coming here 
he married .\nna Walley of Ulster county. Mr. 
Weed's boyhood was chiefly spent on the farm, his 
only advantages for obtaining an education being 
the district schools. In later years he earned means 
for prosecuting law study by teaching school in the 
town of Fayette, until he was able to devote his 
entire time to reading law, first entering the law 
office of J. T. Miller. In the early period of practice 
he was a partner w ith W. .-\. Sackett. But later on 
and during most of the time he was in practice he en- 
gaged alone, making for himself a high reputation as 



an attorney. .Men who afterwards became successful 
lawyers both here and elsewhere, read law in his 
ofTice. Mr. Weed was a man of force and character 
and of wonderful industry and energy. His devotion 
to the cause of liis clients was a distinguishing 
leature of his (iiaracter. In all business tr.insactions 
he was close, prudent and careful —prompt in the 
disciiarge of his obligations and exacting the same 
promptness from others. Socially he was pleasant 
and companionable. He was temperate in all 
things and of a cheerful disposition. 

Mr. Weed, a republican, was active in the support 
of his party tickets and attended party conventions 
both state and national. He was a member and 
valued supporter of the Presbyterian church and an 
acti\e friend of Sunday school work. .\t the time of 
his death he left a liberal bequest to be divided 
equally among the Sunday schools of the village. 

S. S. Palmer, for nearly twenty years engaged 
in the loal business in this village, was born in 
Seneca Falls, Xov. 10, 1851. ,lohn S. Palmer, his 
lather, who came from Cortland county here when a 
young m.in and who subsequently married the 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burritt, one of the old 
Seneca Falls families, was in charge of the South- 
well cooper shops for several years. He died in 1875. 
S. S. Palmer, at the age of thirteen years, began 
working for his living. Tw-o years later he went 
into the Goulds shops where he learned the trade of 
machinist and was employed' sixteen years. Com- 
pelled to leave the shop on account of poor health, 
he entered the coal office of C. S. Hood, where he was 
employed two years and then bought out Hood's 
railroad yards, in April, 1885. With little capital 
but plenty ol pluck and perseverance he built up a 
large and paymg trade. From time to time he made 
many improvements and he now has buildings and 
yards with the latest modern conveniences, in which 
he keeps a large supply of coal, wood, cement, sewer 
pipe, hay and straw. Philadelphia and Reading is the 
coal which he handles and his yearly sales aggregate 
better than 3,000 tons of hard coal. \\'ith the best 
equipment in steam power he is able to convey joo 
tons of coal a day, besides cutting up what wood his 
trade calls for. This is one of the oldest yards in the 
village and under Mr. Palmer's management is 
giving his large trade satisfaction in promptness of 
dfli\-er\- and qualit\" of coal. 




S. S. PALMEK. 



THE COAL YARD OF S. S. PALMEK. 
(Showint? interior of yards and eoal pockets.) 



114 



■■GRIPS' HISIORICAK SOUVENIR OF SENECA KAl.LS. 




OF?M('EKS EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK. 

Milton Hoag, Presidi-nt. 

S. S. Gould, Second, Vice-President. A. R. Palmer. Cashier. 

Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Ella .\. Butts of 
Seneca Falls, in 1874. The children are three boys 
and two girls. Harry S. Palmer is a jeweler, his 
place of business being with his father. Claud L- 
Palmer is the manager gf the yards and the book- 
keeper. Corvdon J.. Mr. Palmer's youngest son, is 
in the United States service on the torpedo boat 
Chauncey, one of the flotilla of Ave torpedo boats 
accompanying the cruiser Buffalo, in the first trans- 
ocean voyage made by Uncle Sam's torpedo boats. 

The Exchange National Bank is the suc- 
cessor to the N'ation.il E.xchange P.ank which was 
organized in 1865 with a capital i>f ?ioo,ooo and a 
circulation of Igo.ooo. Its first Board of Directors 
was: Justus B. .lohnson, Josiah T. Miller, Josiah C. 
Woodworth, Charles L. Hoskins, John .\. Rumsey, 
Henry Hosier and Charles A. Parsons. Justus B. 
Johnson was its first president and continued to be 
president during all its chartered e.xistence. Charles 
.A. Parsons was its first cashier and Norman H. 
Becker its teller. Mr. Parsons served for about a 
year and a half and was then succeeded by Norman 
H.Becker, who continued to be the. cashier of the 
original bank, and of the Exchange National Bank, 
its successor, down to his death, which occurred 
March 11, lyoo. * 

The bank was originally opened in the lower 
rooms of the old Sanderson residence located when 
the present bank building stands, on the north sidi 
of Fall street, and of which building a LUt is pre- 
sented. The old building was removed in 1869. and 
the present handsome and convenient brown stom 
front hanking house was erected during the follow- 
ing year, of which an exterior and an interior view arc 
herewith exhibited. Its dimensions are 22 feet b\ 
h=, feet deep. The office is supplied with ample con- 
veniences for business and the safes and vaults art 
provided with the most modern burglar proof appli- 
ances and time locks. 

The charter ol the original bank expired in 1883, 
and immediately upon such expiration- the present 
Exchange National Bank was chartered, starting 
with a capital of S 100,000, and a surplus of $30,000 
voluntarilv paid in by its subscTibers. Its original 



Board of Directors was as follows: Nor- 
man H. Becker. James H. Gould, Milton 
M.iaK. Harrison Chamberlain, Charles A. 
Hawley, Henry Hosier and John .\. Ram- 
sey. Harrison Chamberlain was chosen 
president. James H. (lould vice president, 
Norman H. Becker cashier and -Xjah R. 
Palmer teller. 

Mr. Becker brought to the office of 
cashier his large experience in the old 
hank, and a genius for financial affairs. 
He was during all his life a tower of 
strength to the institution, and became 
known far and wide as one of the most 
accomplished cashiers in Central New- 
York, and continued in the administration 
of his office dowm to his sudden and un- 
timelv death, when he was succeeded by the 
present cashier, .Ajah R. Palmer, whose 
whole business life has been spent in the 
affairs of the bank. No diminution in 
the prosperity of the bank has been ob- 
served bv this change in its cashier. The 
office of president has been occupied suc- 
cessively bv Harrison Chamberlain. James 
H. Gould and by Milton Hoag the present 
incumbent. 
Its present Board of Directors is as follows: Milton 

Hoag, Seaburv S. Gould, .A.. R. Palmer. Lansing S. 

Hoskins. 'Wilhelmus Mvnderse, C. A. W. Becker, M. 

\'. Sevmour, Josiah '['. Miller and Clarence H. 

Williams. 

The Hon. Charles A. Hawley is now and has been 

since the beginning, the attorney for the bank._ 1 he 

hank h.-is a line ..f depi.sils averasjin? between i^t^oo,- 




THE EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK. 







••(IRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF StNECA FALLS. 




KIKST HOME i>F EXCHANGK NATIONAL BANK. 
(Old Saadersoo Resideuce; removed 1S69.) 

(X)o and S6oo,ooo, and its line of discounts averages 
about Ijoo.ooo. The policy of the bank has always 
been as liberal as was consistent with sound business 
principles, its purpose benig to sustain and assist 
every legitnnate local business enterprise. The bank 
is, and ever has been, more than ordinarilv watchful 
over its securities and property. It not only holds 
monthly meetings of its directors, at which the busi- 
ness of the bank is carefully scrutinized, but it calls 
upon its attorney to attend the meetings of the board 
so that he keeps in touch with all of the details of its 
business. It has, and has continued to have from 
the beginning, an examining committee composed of 
three of its directors who are 
not serving in the actual man- 
agement of the bank, who make 
periodical examinations of all its 
securities and business, going 
over them in detail and actually 
seeing and counting the cash and 
securities and figuring up the 
books with the care and attention 
which is given by an official 
bank examiner, and it then 
renders a written report to the 
Board of Directors, If any error 
is discovered it is brought to the 
attention of the Board and cor- 
rected. 

The hank also has a standing 
discount committee, of which its 
attorney is a member, which in 
all important cases adds its 
judgment to that of the cashier 
before paper is accepted. Neither 
this bank nor its predecessor 
from 1865 to the present time 
has ever passed its semi-annual 
dividend. 



I'he present official force of the bank is as follows: 
Milton Hoag president, Seabury S. Gould vice presi- 
dent, Ajah R. Palmer cashier, Maynard W. Jacoby 
teller, W. T. Usher bookkeeper, Elbert W. Freeland 
assistant bookkeeper, Norman W. Becker clerk. 

"Concert Hall" on State street is probably the 
oldest liuilding ill Seneca F'alls. The original build- 
nig is the rear part of the present structure the whole 
of which is occupied by Undertaker Ryan. The 
front was erected in 1872 by James Sanderson at 
th.it time owner of the building. The old part, 
which had several times been repaired and altered 
still contains beams and sil s which were hewn out 
by hand and put together in 1816. It was then the 
"1' irst Presbyte ian church of Junius," the first 
church structure in the village. It was erected on 
the site of the Presbyterian church of today and the 
builders were Jabez Starks and Mr. Hovey. In 1842 
when the thurch decided upon a new building, this 
old edifice was bought by AUport & tlill, coopers, 
and moved on rollers to where it now stands. Mr. 
Henry Stowell from whom these facts are taken savs: 
"All of ti.e coopers in the village with many others 
numbering in all about 150 men, w-ere employed in 
moving it, and the building was the sensation of the 
time as it went slowly through from Cavuga to State 
streets and down to its present position.'" 

The firm used the building for a cooper shop until 
they failed, alter which it was occupied by lamilies. 

It then became an amusement hall. In i8ji 
Charles G. Milk the purchaser fitted up a stage and 
opened up "Conceit Hall," which until i86g, when 
Daniels' hall was opened, was the only place for pub- 
lic gatherings except Union hall. It was the place 
where many famous shows were given and most of 
the political meetings were held. There the assem- 
bled populace looked upon "Tom Thumb" with 
amazement and drank eloquence from the lips of 
Henry Ward Beecher. In 1866 Milk sold the pro- 
perty to James Sanderson. It since passed into 
other hands. 

First Lawyer. — Gary \'. Sacket, the first attor- 
ney to locate here, came in i8oj, when fifteen years 
old. He studied law with Mr. Mumford in Last 
Cayuga, was admitted to the bar in 1812 and after 
practii-ing at East and West Cayuga hi.ng out his 
shingle here in iSi j. 




EXCHANCJb; NATIONAL HANK: PUIiLIC ROOM. 



ii6 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



Principals nf the Old Academy; Oren Root and 
the Phrenologists; Crittenden's \oisele;s Slip- 
pers: Athletic Walker and His Raw Hide. 

Miss Anna E. Henion writes intere^tinglv of the 
early principals in the old academv: — 

"Cotton Mather Crittenden (how that smacks of 
Puritanism) was the hrst principal and an able man. 
He used to wear slippers, walk noiselessly about the 
room and suddenly appear at the side of some boys 
and girls who were doing evervthing but studv, and 
those boys and girls came to grief. 

"Rutger VanBrunt, a tall, handsome, athletic man, 
afterwards became a Dutch Reformed minister. 

"Oren Root was a fine all-round teacher and 
superior mathematician, versed in mineralogy and 
geology. While he was here. Messrs. h'owler and 



He was an enthusiastic Latin scholar, and owing to 
that fact and also that the more Latin the more 
public money, he soon had a verv large number of 
students studying that fundamental language and 
"hie, haec, hoc." and "anio, amas, amat" were Hying 
through every corner i>f the building. He was the 
hrst principal to whom 1 recited, and we went 
through C^esar,^'irgil, Horace, Cicero nt a rapid rate. 
Mr. Avery was a model of neatness and order He 
offered a prize to the scholar whose books at the 
close of the term were m the best condition and a 
copy of Tacitus won by myself is still a cherished 
possession. 

"Mvron Reach, moderate in sj)eech antl action, 
unrutHed in temper, clear in statement, had the gifl 
of making pupils see things and winning their affec- 
tions. He went to Dubuque and at,erward Chicago, 
and is a successful lawvcr. He took with him as his 
wife one of his best scholars, .Miss Helen Hoskins. 

"When the Rev. Dr. John M. Ciuion was principal 




lATHnl.lC Ml'Tl'AL HENEFIT ASS(«'I.\Tr()N. 1!R.\N('H Nil. :.'s. 
Upper Row (left to rijrht)— Peter Fe'ji'iison, Thomas Riee, Huwli Murpli.w Palriok MelJraw, Keltey. 

Middle Row— lieruard d'Counor, Rice, Edward Davy. John H. U'Brieiu Mioliael McCarthy, Edward 

Byrne. Joseph Casey. Lower Row — Patrick Hamil, Emmet Ryan, Michael Fer^ueon, Patrick Sullivan. 



Wells came to Seneca I'.ills and delivered a lecture 
im the new science of phreiiologv. .\t the conclusion 
some of the audience, all strangers to the lecturers, 
were invited to come forward and have their heads 
examined. Fowler fingered Prof. Root's head a 
minute and said, 'Mathematics.' Root afterwards 
became professor of that science at Hamilton college. 
It is pleasant to know that his ability descended to 
the second and third generation. Oren Root, .Ir., is 
professor, 1 think, of mathematics at Hamilton, 
Klihu Root w;is secretarv of wai in President Roose- 
velt's cabinet, and Oren Root, the 3(1, is president of 
the greatest railway system on earth, the Metropoli- 
tan of New York city. 

"Chas. Augustus Avery, than whom no teacher 
was ever more popular or beloved, literally governed 
by love, never having been known to strike a blow. 



of the academv, the scholars, who had the privilege 
of his instriiclion, never forgot the recitations enliv- 
ened bv his rare scholarship and wit. The academy 
had four teachers, and the principal assistants were 
good men. Sauisbury Hurlinghame, who could 
make that .abstruse study, grammar, luminous and 
iiiteiesting. liundy, Lindemami, Walker, all Hamil- 
ton gradii.'iles, 

"He. ore the ad\eiil of the last named gentleman a 
b" ligerent and ungovernable element had crept in 
among the boys and they openh boasted they would 
turn any teacher out; but when one .Monday morn- 
ing Mr. C.ilbert Walker walked in, a tall, athletic 
six-footer, with a big raw hide in his hand, Ouaker 
meeting reigned throughout the school room and a 
permanent peace descended on all parties. Mr. 
Walker was afterwards governor of \'irginia at the 
close of the Civil war.' 



■GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVF.NMR OF SENECA FALLS. 




iw:iiU(:i: w . ii.w is. 



gedkge I!, li.wi?;. 



George W Davis, M !^.. was cme of the best 
kiiiiwn itiL'dicai pi arlicioners and [ilianiiafists in 
Si'iii-ca I'alls ■>! Iialf a century afjn. He prominently 
idcntilied hniisrll lor \(ars witli piihlir allaiis and 
was wifieK known in the central and western parts 
of the state, especiallv in Cayuga and Seneca coun- 
ties. It was durinj^ the war that Dr. l)a\is was the 
i\aniining sur.ijeon on the board of I'lnolhnent lor 
this congressional district with his headquarters at 
.\uburn. \t home hr was distinguished as a Lnost 
acti\e and jirogressive citizen, botli in his profession 
and in soi iety, an inlluential man. .\t one time he 
was on the board of supervisors and (or one or two 
terms served as president of the village. On March 
li. 1S6I1. the' old Mundv dru.ii store [a pn lure of which 



as. It thru appeared with adjacent business places, is 
printed on page 22| passed into the hands of Dr. 
<irii, W. I),ixis\- Son. ' F'our years later the senior 
|i iiliiii look up his residence in .lacksonville, I'la.. 
wliin' he li\ed 23 vears, until the liinr oF hi-, death, 
pending his summers in Seneca I'alls. Since i.soti 
llic drug store has lioen in the same hands a |icriod 
"I iiiMiU- .^o years — and it is one of tlu; best known 
liiisinos places in' the village and \'lcinit\. Mr. 
|).i\is was born in .Marcellus, Onondaga county, I'eb. 
-J, if^^22, and was educated at the Medical College at 
t Mil innati where he was graduated when 25 vears of 
le, , The first year of his practice was at Daiisville, 
\.Y., after which he practiced at Buffalo. Auburn 
Old Syracuse, coming to Seneca Falls in June, i^5J. 
Ills removal to Jacksonville w .is occasioned by fail- 
ing health, but he lived to the \enerable age of 7) 
M-ars, his death occurring Oct. y, 1895. 

The doctor and Betsev Pollard of Marcellus, were 
married in 1N4S. She lived until the day before last 
I hristinas ( 11)03) wlien she passed away in her 73tli 
V c.i r. 

George B. Davis, the druggist, was biirn at 
Dansville, N. Y., March 28. 1849, and was educated 
in the schools in this village. When a mere boy, in 
.Vjiril, 18O3, he enlisted for service in the war for the 
union, being accepted as a recruit for the 8tli New 
York Cavalry, but as the war was closed about tli.il 
time he saw no arduous service. Being bu' sixteen 
years old at the time of his enlistment the event 
attracted considerable local attention. He was one 
of the charter members of Post Cross, No. 78, G. .V. 
R., of which he has been a zealous supporter. On 
Oct. I, 1873, he bought the doctor's interest in the 
drug business. In October 18S1, he married Joan 
Cioodman of Seneca Falls. Mr. Davis has one son, 
George M. Davis, a bookkeeper, residing at Syracuse. 
George B. Davis is an active Mason, a member of 
Pocahontas Lodge since 1870, ,ind now its treasurer, 
a post he has held 25 years. 




CKOKUE li. IIAN is _ L)Kt e. r-T*!!!!-.:. 



ii8 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




.7. ('. DAVIS. 

The Climax Specialty Company began busi- 
ness in January, iS'j;, and were at th.it time located 
in the basement of the Partridge block. They were 
incorporated under the laws of the State of New 
York, and their charter calls for the manufacture of 
leather goods, plumbers' supplies, bicycle pumps, etc. 
At the time of starting up their plant they employed 
eleven operators, and by making high grade goods 
their reputation spread rapidly, and their business 
increased far beyond their expectations, .-\bout one 
year later, having outgrown the capacity of their old 
quarters they bought the water power and factory 
which they now occupy and began to increase their 
line of goods. ■rhp\ built additions to their new- 



plant, such as a brass foundry, nickel plating depart- 
ment, etc., and at the present time have on their 
pay roll about one hundred employees. 

By the aid of traveling salesmen their goods have 
been introduced and are now shipped to all parts of 
the world. Their factory is equipped with all of the 
latest improvements in machinery and other facilities 
and they operate several machines of their own 
invention. The washers and leather goods are made 
for every purpose known to sanitary science, and in 
their line of goods they are the largest manufactur- 
ers in the world. 

Their brass goods, while being strictly specialties, 
are models of beauty and perfection, and it can with 
truth be said that this company has been the means 
of producing sanitary appliances whereby people of 
moderate means can enjoy what were formerly lux- 
uries and intended only for the wealthy. 

The founder of this company, John C. Davis, is the 
inventor of the celebrated Climax adjustable rubber 
elbow for use in connection with lavatories, and this 
invention has done much toward making him and 
his company famous. There are over one million of 
these elbows in use, and there is an ever increasing 
demand for them. 

Mr. Davis, the president of the company, is a pro- 
gressive, vigorous man of thorough business ideas, 
practical in all respects and entitled to a great deal 
of credit for the success which the Climax Specialty 
Co. deserves as well as enjoys. Of an inventive turn 
of mind he has evolved and put into practical use 
many ingenious contrivances which the company is 
manufacturing. 

The First Physician ni the territory now com- 
prised in Seneca county was Dr. Alexander Coventry, 
who brought his family and settled at Rose'^Hill, the 
town of Fayette in .Tune, lyqs, and removed to Utica, 
subsequently serving as president of the State .Medi- 
cal .Association, i823-'4. His death occurred at 
t'tica, Dec. o, iS^i. 




J. C. DAVIS' RESIDENCE, 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



119 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL. SOUVENIRS 

\ggri'g,ite I'opulatH.n .il tliu Xiiiagr!. Inr wIimIi th'\ 

were Published, 40,600 
Aggregate Circulation of all ol these wurks 41,000. 

They Reach all Parts of the Wcjrld 

All "f the following places Published an- 111 New 

V..rk State:— 
iSi)4 — Middleburgh, Schoharie Co. Population 1,100 
i.Sqj — Cobleskill. Schoharie Co. " 2,000 

1896 — Oneonta, Otsego Co. " 4,000 

1897 — Delhi, Delaware Co. " 1,900 

1897 — Oxford, Chenango Co. " 1,800 

1899 — Groton, Tompkins Co. " 1.300 

1899 — Cortland, Cortland Co. " g,ooo 

1900 — DeRuyter, .Madison Co. " 700 

1900— .Marathon, Cortland Co. " 1,200 

1902 — Camden, Oneida Co. " 2,500 

1902 — Pulaski, Oswego Co. '• 1,500 

igo2 — Phoenix, Oswego Co. " 1,500 

1903 — Mexico, Oswego Co. " 1,200 

1903 — Waterloo, Seneca Co. " 4,200 

1904 — Seneca Falls, Seneca Co " 6,700 



Preceptresses, Old .\cademy; Pen Pictures of 

the I iw Interesting Traits of Distinguished 
Teachers, 
rile earlv preceptresses ol the old academy men- 
tioned by Miss Anna E. Henion were Miss Lucretia 
Wilson, the hrst, then Miss Butlerick, afterwards the 
wife of the Hon. Wm. .\. Sackett. "But the time 
most fondly remembered in those days," Miss Henion 
writes, "was when that position was hlled by respec- 
tively the three daughters of Mr. Chas L. Hoskins, 
the Misses Frances, Laura and Annette Hoskins. 
Miss Laura taught only a short time, marrying and 
going away, but I affirm it was a liberal education 
to go to school to either one of these ladies. Miss 
Frances Hoskins afterwards Mrs. Thos. Fatz.nger, 
taught a number of years. She was very thorough 
in her teaching of reading, writing, spelling and 
grammatical language. Woe to the scholar that 
talked incorrectly in her presence. She took great 
pains to advise us about books to read, good poetry, 
history, biography and standaid fiction, always the 
best. Miss .\nnette Hoskins, who taught many 










From i*rint . 



THE CLIMAX SFKUIALTV WOKKtS. (View from Fall Street.) 



Youngest W. C. T. U. — -^nnie L., the daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Mrs. William Norton, and Marion, 
the daughter ol .Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lnos, two of 
the several bright young girls for which Seneca Falls 
is noted, are the youngest life members of the 
Woman's Christian Temberance Union in the State. 
They are eight vears old and neither has been known 
since she became a life member of the order, which 
was about a year ago, to permit her doll or tea 
dishes to interfere with her work in getting mem- 
bers of the Juvenile temple. They would as soon 
think of going without their clothes as going with- 
out the white ribbon. 

First Brick Building -J. M. Coleman in 1826, 
BitctiJ the lirst brick structure on the north side of 
the river for a residence and harness shop. It was 
bought in r86o bv Henry Seymour and John Cudde- 
back and torn down to give place to a business 
block. 



years was of the same rare type, a grand teacher in 
every sense of the word and dozens of boys and girls 
owed what was best in their intellectual life to her 
teaching. .A.fter leaving the academy she had pri- 
vate classes in her own home for a number of years. 

"Miss Caroline Bull, afterwards Mrs. Dr. Cook of 
Canandaigua, was preceptress for a year. She was 
an elegant and accomplished lady, very dignified in 
language and demeanor. One day a discouraged 
girl exclaimed in school girl fashion, '.Mercy on us, 1 
can never get this lesson, it is so hard.' Miss Bull 
looked up, 'Young ladies,' said she, 'don't throw out 
such ejaculations.' 

"Miss Mina Bascom, afterwards Mrs. (Dr.) David 
Gordon, was preceptress for a number of years. Miss 
.-Vddie Pollard, afterwards the wife of Rev. Chas. A.. 
Wetmore held the same position. Miss M. L. Patti- 
son was preceptress for ten years. 'To name them is 
to praise.' The longest periods of service are Miss 
M. A. Leach between 30 and 40 years, Miss Jennie 
Wicks between 30 and 40 years, Miss Mary Fairchild, 
25 years. Miss Failing, now Mrs. C. I.. Story, sixteen 
years." 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




ALVAH F. STAHL'S RESIDEXCE. 



The Seneca Roofing Co. is the name adopted 
by Messrs. Pctoi' .\. and Alvah F. Stahl, for carrying 
un the business of roofing, which they recently pur- 
chased of the Peter Fetter estate. It is well known 
that the slate, gravel and tar roofs that were con- 
structed by Mr. Fetter are among the best of the kind 
in the market, and it is proposed by the Messrs. Stahl 
to largely increase the business and to keep up the 
standard of this work, thev ha\*ing planned to carrv 
it along on a large scale. Both gentlemen are car- 
penters by trade and are largely engaged as builders, 
having erected many fine residences in the village. 

Peter A. Stahl was born in Seneca county Nov. ig, 
i8ji, and at an early age he learned the trade of car- 



penter. After moving to Seneca Falls he engaged m 
contracting and building. He married Harriett Hil- 
kert bv whom thev have three children, two sons and 
one daughter. 

.\lvah F. Stahl, whti is one of the leading contrac- 
tors and builders of Seneca Falls, the son of Peter .A. 
Stahl, was born in Seneca Falls, March 24, 1876, and 
obtained his education in the public schools of this 
village. Six years ago, after learning the carpenter's 
trade, he entered into contracting and building and 
has been success'ul in the erection of many fine resi- 
dences. He married Irene M. Russell, June 20, igoi. 
Mr. Stahl is one of the trustees of the village, elected 
in March, 1903, and is a member of the Masonic 
order. 




PETEK A. STAHL'6 RESIDENCE. 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OK SENKCA FALLS. 











J^i<j(%«r. 





('(iRXELirs miul). LEWIJS B. HUWELL. 

Cornelius Hood, Iit many years a resident of 
Seneca Falls and distinguished for his activity in 
church work as an elder in the F'irst Presbyterian 
church of this \ illage lor forty-two years, was born 
at Xew Paltz, L'lster Co.. X. Y., ,\pril IJ, i8]o. In 
iSiy his parents moved to Bellona, Yates Co., N. Y., 
~i\ miles south of (ienpva. .Mr. Hood was then a 
-mall boy and in later years he remembered many 
incidents of that trip to their new home, made 
through a new and sparselv settled (-ountry, over 
scarcelv opened roads, passing through the then 
little settlement of Seneca Falls by water, when there 
was but one house on the south shore of the river. 
It was his privilege afterwards to see the place e.v- 
pand into a large village. In 1S41 he married Agnes 
MacDonald of Bellona, and they took up their home 
in Seneca Falls, where he alwa\s displayed a 
great deal of interest in the welfare of the com- 
munitv. Coming from Bellona where he was an 



elder in the cliurch five years he at once took the 
same place in the church here in which his services, 
uninterrupted to the time of his death, were valuable 
in several w-ays to that society and attached to him 
a circle of many warm friends. Mr. Hood died at 
his home in this village, Jan. iS:, 1883. His children, 
of whom only the two last named survive, were 
Corne-lia .\gnes Hood, William Angus Hood, who 
lost his life in the Cnion army during the civil war; 
Cornelius S. Hood and .\nna \'.. Hood both residing 
in Seneca Falls. 

Lewis B. Howell ».is om- of ilie large Hour null 
owners in this village when this was a large shipping 
point for flour. Although he took no prominent 
part in politics he displayed more than common 
interest in village matters and was a friend of the 
schools. Living here the last fort\ vears of his life 
his was a familiar figure in business circles and his 
business energv and activit\' were distinguishing 
traits of his character. Parsippany, X. ]., was his 
birthplace, June 6, 1818. When a young man he 
went south and engaged in business in Xew Orleans 
with his brother, -\bram in i844-'6. Then he took 
up milling with his brother, Stephen W., at Black 
Rock, nc)'w Xdrth Buffalo, X. '^*., and eight or nine 
years later, in 1835, the two bought the City Mills in 
this village. They also, in connection with the Citv 
.Mills, conducted the old stone mill and were large 
producers of flour for twelve or thirteen years. 
When their connection with these mills ceased, Mr. 
Lewis B. Howell sold flour on the road which occu- 
pation he followed until a few years prior to his 
death — Oct 26. i8g6. He was married in 1847 to 
Georgiana Stone Callendar of Buffalo. Their child- 
ren are Georgiana .\lice (Mrs. C. S. Hood) and Louis 
J. Howell, a resident of California. Mary 1'.. and 
Hattie Howell are dead. 

Ea,ster Sunday: dates for the ensuing twent\- 
live years. — 1904 — Apl 3; 'oj — Apl 23; '06 — .Apl ij, 
07 — Mch 31; "oS — Apl iq: "og — Apl 11; 'ro — Mch 
27; '11 — -\pl 16; '12 — .\p\ 7; 'i^ — Mch 2^; '14 — .\pl 
12: 'i.i- Apl 4: 'lb— .Apl 23: •'17— Apis"; 'iS— Mch 
y; '14 — Apl 20; '20 — Apl 4; '21 — .Mch 27; '22 — .\pl 
ih; '23 — .\pl i; '24 — -\pl 20; '23 — .-Vpl 12; '2f) — .Apl 
4; 27 — .\pl 17; 28 — Apl 8; '29 -Mch 3t; "30- .\p\ 




RESIDENCE OF C. S. HOOD. 



"GRIPS • HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OV SENECA FALLS. 



"3 



The Fire of 1890-- 

At 3:13 o'rluck Wednesday morning, July 30, i8go, 
the first peal nf alarm awoke the village to the be- 
ginning of an awful conflagration, which in a short 
space of time destroyed eighty-seven places of busi- 
ness and residences and devoured property to the 
amount of thousands of dollars. Fire was discovered 
at the same time in the Pew building and the west 
end of the Johnson block. In a distance of 360 feet 
on the south side of Fall street, 300 feet on the north 
side and 360 feet on State street was left a mass of 
ruins. Chief O'Malley and the Geneva fire depart- 
ment and the Waterloo tire department responded to 
appeals for help. Chief H. N. Rumsey of Seneca 
Falls was out of town, but Assistants McCartin and 
Williams, and President of the village E. A. Rumsey 
ably directed the local firemen, finally surrendering 
command to Chief O'Malley. The list of losses 
published two days later in the Reveille is as follows, 
herein given for historical reference: 

P.^RTRIDGE BLOCK. 

Loss. 
Partridge Block, $ 75,ooo 

Seneca Electric Co. & E. R. R. 100,000 
American Express Co., fi.xtures. 300 

Seneca Falls Reveille, 
Western Union Telegraph Co 
Courier Printing Co. 
G. W. Shewman, machinery, 
Seneca Plating Co. 
W. H. Sanderson, furniture 
C. S. Sanderson, undertaking 
P. H, Van .Auken, law office, 
Dr. J. Cronin, 
T. Jennings, tailor 
School of Stenography, 
Prof. McLachlin. 
Hattie Slauson, millinerv, 
Postofilice 

J. E. Medden, newstand, 
Maurer Bros. 
J. H. Crowell, meat market, 

PEW BLOCK. 

S. Pew, building, 

J. Allen, confectionery. 

J. Allen, household, 

Sutherland & Squires, saloon 

Brice & Peck, fish market 

C. W. Banks, plumbing, 

Mrs. H. M. Hadley, millinery, 

JOHNSON BLOCK 

Mrs. Johnson, block, 
T. R. Lawrence, saloon, 
N. M. Jennings, millinery 
Owen Smyth, grocery, 
R. C. Wayne, bookstore 
X B. Stevens, J. P. 

GOULD BUILDING 

Mrs. H. B. Gould, building 
Xunnold Bros., clothing, 
N. P. B. Wells, household 
Journal Publishing Co. 



1 5,000 

250 

15,000 

600 

2,500 

8,000 

7,000 

1,000 

100 

100 

100 

500 

1,000 

L'nknown 

500 

4,000 

800 



3.500 

1,000 
500 

1,000 
450 
500 

1,500 

22,000 
3,000 
3,000 

300 
4.500 

150 



Insurance. 

$ 10,000 

None 

300 

2,QOO 

Unknown 
4,000 
None 
None 
2,500 
3,000 
None 
None 
None 
None 

Unknown 
500 

LInknown 

None 

1,000 

350 

None 
None 
None 
500 
None 
None 
1,000 



10,000 
1,000 
2,000 
None 
2,200 
None 



10,000 

18,000 

4,000 

7,000 

HOWE BUILDING. 

Dr. C. B. Howe, building, 13,000 

Dr. C. B. Howe, office & household, 3,000 
.M. Hoag, drug store, 5.000 

D. V. Hall, shop, 500 
David Eldridge, tools, 50 

DESKY BLOCK. 

1. Desky, block, 20,000 

E. M. Hemmil, saloon, 1,500 
.■\. Gay, agent, clothing. t),ooo 



5,000 

8,000 

500 

4,000 



5,000 

None 
5,000 
None 
None 



9,000 

700 

5,000 



4,000 

2,(X>0 

1,000 
100 
300 

300 

400 
300 

6,000 

250 

5,000 

6,000 

5,000 

200 



DANIELS BLOCK. 

Geo. O. Daniels, block, 12,000 

P. Van Kleek, drug store 
E. Hill, grocery. 
Cross Post, G. A. R. 
Christadelphian Society, 
.'\. S. Pollard, insurance, 

E. Sackett, insurance. 
Dr. Nelson, 

Dr. H. M. Lowe, office, 
J. K. Gilmore, drug store, 
George Demorest, pension, 

NORCOTT BLOCK 

Mrs. Shipp, block 
1'. Howe, hats and caps 
r^hillips & Hawlev, hardware, 
J. M. Guion, J. P.' 

CROWELL BLOCK. 

Mrs. E. L. Crowell, building, 9,000 

Mrs. E. L. Crowell, household, 2,500 
H. C. Blodgett, dry goods, 12,000 

MC CARTIN BUILDING. 

F. P. McCartin, building, 8,000 
F'. P. McCartin, harness store 6,000 
Mrs. William Lake, furniture, 1,000 
M. Hoag, hotel and contents 30,000 

OPERA HOUSE BLOCK. 

Milton Hoag, block, 
Garnsey & Waller, hardware, 
E. W. Addison, shoe store 
Telephone office, 
Anna Curran, household, 

Sr.A.TE STREET. 

Mrs. Johnson, house & B. S. shop, 
David Hudson, household, 
Peter George, building, 
Peter George, barber shop, 
Charles Forneisi, confectionery, 
Mrs. William Norrott, block, ' 
William Comber, liquor store, 
William Comber, household, 
A. M. Hall, cigar manufacturer, 
Chinese Laundry, 
William Dennison, repair shop, 
George Hanna, household, 
George Hanna, store and stock, 
Thomas Smith, household, 
D. M. Kellogg, livrry, 
Daniels Estate, livery barn, 
Daniels estate, house, 
Horace Knight, two houses, 
Sanderson, barn. 



35,000 

8,500 

12,000 

2,CXX> 
1,300 

3,000 
500 

5oo 

500 

400 
5,000 
2.500 

500 
1,500 

400 

50 

1,000 

1,000 

800 

partial 

1,500 

1,000 

2,000 

600 



4,000 
2,000 
1,000 

400 
None 

100 
Unknown 

200 

None 

3,000 

50 



3.500 
3,000 
2,100 

None 



2,000 

1,600 
10,000 

5,000 

4,100 

250 

7,600 



10,000 

5.500 

5.000 

Unknown 



2,000 

None 

Unknown 

250 

300 
3,000 

None 

250 

500 

None 

None 

300 

200 

400 

2,500 

1,000 

800 

800 

None 



Seneca Falls Library Association. — 

Through the kind offices of Hon. Charles A, Hawley 
the Seneca Falls Library Association was incorpo- 
rated in September, 1891. Suitable rooms were 
secured in the Partridge Block and the reading room 
was opened Nov. 16, 1891, with the best magazines 
and periodicals on the reading table, and these have 
always been furnished and have drawn many readers. 
The books, about 1,200 in number, were catalogued 
and put in circulation, Jan. i, 1892. It has grown 
rapidly and there are now about 5,000 volumes, the 
reference department being of especial value. It has 
changed its quarters three times; once in December, 
1893, owing to the fire which destroyed the block, 
and a second time in February, 1897, and the last 
removal in February, 1903, to the store it now 
occupies. 

It has no endowment, receives no appropriation 
from the village and is supported entirely by volun- 



1^4 



■•GRIP'S' mSTORICAI, SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




JAMES D. I'OLLAKD. 

t;iry contributiniis. The State irive-- -Siuu per vear. 
Under the circunibtaiices, its grnwtli and suness lias 
been remarkable. The need i)f a building for the 
library is great. -\t some day not very far distant it 
is hoped that this great want will be supplied. With 
more spacious accommodations and shelf room, the 
value of such an institution would be increased. 

The Westcott- Jewell Co., "nc of the largest 
manufacturers ol desk and school rulers in the world. 
had its beginning as far back as 187J, when the 
company, C. H. and F. Westcott, brothers, in associ- 
ation with their father. H. P. Westcott, began the 
manufacture of printers' supplies. 'I'hi' latter who 



was an ingenious man, was largely responsible for the 
success which the company then achieved. He devised 
and made special machinery for manufacturing the 
products of the company and w;is associated with 
the concern until iSgo. It was then incorporated as 
Westcott liros. Co., and branching out into manv 
lines of specialties manufactured a number of useful 
articles including largely toy blocks and games. In 
1894 the companv was re-incorporated hv C. H. 
and F. VVestcott aiid C. F. and M. \i. .lewell'. Then, 
as the business was quickly extended the several 
specialties were laid aside until now the product of 
the works is mainly rulers, ma<ie in all sizes and 
linishes, both for the trade such as are used in offices, 
and for advertising purposes. Not the smallest pari 
of the business is the export trade and it also extends 
through all parts of the United States. 

The plant is one of the largest of its kind, so far as 
buildings and facilities go, in this 1 ountrv. There 
.are three groups of structures. The picture accom- 
panying this sketch gives only one view — that from 
I5ayard street. There is besides this building, a 
structure of three stories fronting on Spring street, 
and another of two stories fronting on Green street. 
The three groups are connected by acentral structure, 
giving a total floor space of 4ji,ooo square feet. I'hi 
Havard street building comprises tfie ofTices, the 
hnishing, stock, shi[)ping and storage rooms. The 
machinery and general work rooms are in the other 
buildings. Power is obtained by the use of three 
steam engines. .About 73 to 100 hands are regularly 
employed. 

The Westcott-.leweU Co. may be said tn be the ' 
pioneers in manufacturing and marketing rulers for ■ 
ad\'ertising purposes. This companv is composed of f 
men who are in high business stantling. progressive ■ 
and pushing, and in touch with approved modern 1 
methods. Such concerns as this, many of which 1 
Seneca Falls boasts of having, is what has iiitrnduced I 
the i^lace to manv parts of the world. 

James D. Pollard, youngest son of the late 
Henry PollanI, was born Jul)' 22, 1840. His father 
was born at I'ainbridge, Chenango Co., X. V., March 

in, 180^. and c;imc til Seneca I'.'iUs in i.s^io. On Aug. 




Piuden, Pboto. THE WE8T((lTT-J KWKLL Cil. 

(Showing only the Main Buildiug, froutini^ on Bayard street.) 



•'GRIPS' HISTORICAI. SOUVENIR OhTSENECA FALLS. 



Ill 




I'riulell. PiKito. DIVISION No. 1. AXCIKNI' " 
Edward Byrne. J. H. O'Brien, 

Financial Secretary. Treasurer. 

Bernard Tonnors, Michael Reagan. 

President. Co. President 



11, i: HlBEKNl.WS. 
.John Reagan. 
Keciirding Secretary. 

Michael McCarthy, 
Second Vice-President. 



3, i!S20, lie married -Vnna Holly. «[ Wyoming Co., 
X. Y. Henrv Pollard, whose sterling qnalities n[ 
character are interwoven with the early history and 
social and commercial progress of this village, died 
suddenly Sept. 13, 1853. His son, James D. Pollard, 
graduated from the Seneca Falls Academy at an 
early age and became a clerk in the post oflk-e. 

He was the first secretary of the Seneca I'alls Sav- 
ingsBank, and subsequently, for about twenty years. 



honorary iiicinber < 
Syracuse. 

He was greeted 



was interested in the Partridge 
Banking House at that place. 

He had very little ambition for 
the honors and emoluments of 
publ c life, yet he was elected 
and served as supervisor of the 
tc.wn, clerk of the village fourteen 
\rars, a member of its board of 
t-aucation and chairman of the 
first board of managers of the 
|iihn-.oii Home for indigent 
Tciiialcs. In all these positions 
his record for an intelligent, con- 
scientious and diligent discharge 
of dutv, is an enviable one. 

James 1). Pollard was made a 
Mason in Pocahontas Lodge No. 
jii at Seneca Falls on June 3, 
1S63, and at once took a lively 
interest in Masonic matters. He 
was Master of that lodge in the 
vears iSf.f., iSfi; and 187O, Dis- 
trict r)e])utv Cirand Master in 
iSf)f>. He was also a member of 
the Masonic \'eterans .\ssociation 
of Syracuse. He was exalted to 
the degree of Royal Arch in 
Salem Town Chapter, No. 173, at 
Seneca Falls on Nov. 28, 1862, 
•and was High Priest of that 
Chapter in the years i8f>6, iSdq, 
1871) and 1871. He was also an 
<if Central City Chapter No. 70, of 



Select Master of the Cryptic 
Rite in C.ebal Council No. 5, at Trenton, N. J.. Jan. 
if), i8f>4. created a Knight Templar in Palestine 
Commandery No. 4 at Trenton, N. J., Sept. 6, 1864, 
and subsequentlv affiliated with Cicneva Command- 
erv No. 2q. 

He entered the (irand Chapter in I'ebruary, 1866, 
as the representative of his Chapter, and from that 




Pruden, PluiK 



KdHEKT TF-.^KS RESIDENCE. 



126 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




CHARLES ! 
KOBERT 



SANDEKSDX, 
GANOL'NG. 



JAMES SANDERSON. 
WARKEN M. LELAND. 



time, through all the intervening years to the last 
annual convocation, because of his nobilitv of char- 
acter and his rare intelligence as a Royal Craftsman, 
he was most cordially welcomed and highly esteemed 
by his companions. He was appomied Grand Mas- 
ter of the First Veil 1867, Grand Master of the 
Second Veil 1S68, served as Grand Principal 
Sojourner in 1871 and 1872, Grand Scribe i873-'6. 
Grand King i877-'g. Deputy Grand High Priest 
i88o-'i, Grand High Priest in i882-'3, and since his 
retirement from the latter office he was annually 
appointed a member of the committee on Jurispru- 
dence. In 1S76 he was commissioned representative 
of the Grand Chapter of Kentucky, near New York. 
Companion Pollard was of a commanding presence, 
a most genial and friendly disposition — well 
informed, thoughtful and considerate, an able and 
convincing speaker, always true 
to his convictions of the right, he 
had created for himself in the 
hearts of his compani<^ns an 
enduring monument nf their 
implicit confidence in his integ- 
rity, and of their unbounded love 
for him as a man, a brother and 
a companion. In all these dute- 
ous services his zeal never abated, 
his eloquence never palled, and 
his abiding interest in Capitul.'ir 
.Masonry never ceased. 

He was suddenly stricken with 
apoplexy on the morning of No\ . 
4, 1902. When medical aid ar- 
rived he was beyond human 
assistance, and painlessly passed 
from peaceful slumber int^ 
eternal day. His remains weri 
escorted by his lodge and com- 
mandery from his late residence 
to Trinity Episcopal church, nf 
which he was a member, when' 
in the presence of his brethren 
and a large concourse of his fellow 



litizens, the church service was conducted by the 
rt-itor, the Rev. William Bours Clarke, and lie was 
liuried in Restvale cemetery, with the funeral 
lienors of .Masonry, by his lodge. He was married 
< )rt. 24, 1881, to Miss Ellen D. Latham, who with 
his daughter Miss .-\liie E. Pollard survive him. 

Ancient Order of Hibernians. — The Order 
\\ as organized in Seneca Falls, .A.ug. 3, 1893 and has 
.1 membership of 125. Its rooms are centrally located 
,tnd its membership increasing gradually. There is 
a substantial sum in its treasury. It has paid out of 
its fund Si.qoo for sick and death benehts. The 
nHicers of Division Xo. i, -A.. O. H., of Seneca Falls 
are: President, Bernard O'Connor; Vice President, 
M. .1. McCarthy; Recording Secretary, John .A. Rea- 
gan; Financial Secretary, Edward. P. Byrne; Treas- 
urer, John H. O'Brien; County Presid. nt. M. IC. 
Reagan. 

James Sanderson, one of the oldest residents 
I vf Seneca Falls and one of the few among the early 
business men of this village who survived the passing 
away of the last century, came here with his parents 
in 1829. His father, James Sanderson, was one of 
the first undertakers in the village. He started a 
cabinet shop on Fall street where he conducted the 
business of cabinet making in conjunction with that 
of an undertaker for twenty-five years. As was cus- 
tomary at that time he made all of the coffins and 
burial cases that his business called for in his own 
shop and largely with his own hands. In time he 
accumulated considerable property. His son James, 
the subject of this sketch, worked in his father's shop 
about ten years. He was born in New York in 1821, 
and consequently was about eight years old when 
the family came to Seneca Falls. .After working for 
his father he occupied a position at his trade in New 
York for fourteen months, after which he was em- 
ployed for five years at McGrawville, Cortland Co., 
where he married Charlotte McGraw in 1846. In 
1856 he went into business on Fall street about where 
.Addison's shoe store is now located. In 1S66 he 
purchased the old I'oncert hall building of Charles 
G. Milk, who occupied the ground floor as a resi- 
dence, the upper part consisting wholly of a public 
hall. Mr. Sanderson subsequently traded the prop- 




Prudt-ri, Photo. CH.\RI.ES S. S.iXDEKSl iN S INDERTAKING PARI,nU< 
(Buildlug- arehitecturally designed by Robert S. Gauouug.) 



■CRIP'S" hist(ikic:ai. soia'kxir of sexf.ca falls. 




Prudeu, Photo. 

SHOWROOM OF C. 



SANDERSON S INDERTAKING PARLORS. 



wholly by Mr. Sanderson. The 
appurtenances to the business — 
hearses, etc., are complete and 
modern. Mr. Sanderson, on 
March 28, 1883, married Isabella 
P.fnven. i.f Tyre, X. Y. He has 
been active in village affairs, 
having served two years as village 
trustee and three years on the 
board of education. He is at the 
present time president of the 
lemetery commission and is high 
in Masonry, being a member of 
the Lodge and Chapter of Seneca 
Falls, tlie Geneva Commandery 
and Damascus Shrine of Roch- 
ester. Mr. Sanderson has for 
vears been the musical director 
in the Presbvterian church in this 
village. 

His business requires the 
assistance of two go.id men and 
he could have obtained no better 
than those who are associated 
with him. Mr. Robert S. Ganoung 
and Warren M. Leland. 



was 



erty and fmally obtained the building and site on 
Fall street now occupied by the Enos & \\'hitney 
store. It was there that he was in trade when he 
retired from business life in 1885. For some years 
he was a member of the school board, an active 
member of the volunteer hre companies when "the 
boj's ran with the machine," and was (.thprwisp :i< t- 
ive and zealous in village affiairs. 

C. S. Sanderson, the leading undertaker, was 
born in Seneca Falls, Sept. 23, 185^., and he 
educated at the Normal school at Whitewat. r 
dividing his time between getting 
an education and teaching school 
In i87q he returned to Senec;i 
Falls, t-aching school here for .1 
while and later at McGrawvilk 
\'. Y. Then he served as super 
intendent of schools at Cortland 
\. Y., and in 1885 returned to 
Seneca Falls, going into business 
here with his brother William 
H. Sanderson. They bought the 
furniture and undertaliing busi- 
ness of their father, in the McCar- 
tin block and sotm after moved 
mto the Partridge block wherr 
the fire of 1890 cleaned them out. 
.•\fter that the brothers separated. 
William H. taking the furniture 
business and Charles S. that <>! 
undertaking. The latter bouglii 
the lot on which his place of bu- 
iness. No. 24 State street (shown 
in the accompanying cut), now 
-lands, and in i8qi erected the 
verv finelv appointed and spacious 
huilding, which upon completion 
proved as completely arranged 
for undertaking as any place of 
business in this sectif)n of tlie 
state. It has two stories with 
very pleasant office in the front, 
ware rooms in the rear and a 
morgue in the basement. There 
is also an ambulance service 
connected with it conducted 



Cayuga Park; Opening of the Railway. — On 
Mav 24, iSSfi, was filed a certificate of incorporation 
of "Cayuga Lake Park Co." with a capital stock of 
§20,000 — 200 shares. The incorporators were George 
H. Staynor, .lohn D. Haines and Wm. J. Townsend 
and its five trustees were George H. Staynor. and 
Messrs. C. P., A. G.. D. S. and J. O. Haines. 

On June 10, 1886. work on the extension of the 
street railway to the lake was begun in Bridge street. 

The road was opened to the park on .Aug iq. 1886. 




WILL l'.\MS°l" SOX, .JEWELERS, SENECA FALLS, N. Y. (Established 1845) 



128 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




AMOS G. KENYON. 

Amos G. Kenyon u'iis Ikh'ii in Bnioklvn, Ct., 
No\. ill, iS;;:,. , nil] the earlier part of his manhoml 
was spent on his fatlier's farm. Xaturallvof an active 
and progressive temperament the plodding life of 
an agriculturalist was not to his taste and so at the 
age of J I he went to Hartford, Ct., and entered the 
hat store of his brother, R. P. Kenyon. Part of the 
time during the ensuing few years he spent as a 
salesman on the road. On May lo, 1881, he married 
Miss Ella Rockwell of that city and in August, 1883. 
they located at Seneca Falls. Here he boue;ht the 
gentleman's furnishing goods store from Mr. Wood- 
ruff, which he conducted down to the time of his 
death and which Mrs. Kenyon has since continued 
under the personal management ot Mr. W. J. Mackin. 
It is a fact worthy of note that as the same business 
had previously been carried on for manv vears bv 
.Mr. Crandall Kenyon, the predecessor of Mr. Wood- 
ruff — the latter having had it but a comparatively 
short time — it may be said to have been running 



under the name of Kenyon, with this short break, for 
a period of about sixty years. Since the death of 
-\mos Kenyon it has been conducted, as it was then, 
on a scale commensurate with a progressive up-to- 
date fully equipped haberdashery. 

.\mos Kenyon was a man of integrity and excellent 
business capacity. His death occurred Sept. 11, 
1899, when he was in his prime and cut short a 
promising career. He was fidl of vim and courage 
and enjoyed the confidence of all. The Knights of 
Pythias to which he belonged and in which he was 
honored with high positions, greatly regretted the 
loss of so zealous a member .Mrs. Kenyon has two 
children, Jennie and .Amos Rockwell Kenyon. 

Cayuga Bridge; Dismantling the Old Struct- 
ures. — [By Fred Teller j — It is singular that the exact 
date of the final abandonment of the old bridge 
should be an event of so much doubt. There are 
many people now living who can distinctly remem- 
ber it, but cannot fix the time. If it had gone to 
pieces all at once, like the deacon's one horse shay, 
there would be no trouble to establish the time at 
which it took place. The bridge was going to decay 
for several years before it was sold by the Bridge Co!, 
and was used for several years after it passed out of 
their hands. The people using it after 1850 paid no 
toll and passed over it at their own risk. Mr. .\lfred 
Greenleaf informed the writer that his brother, mar- 
ried in December, 1854. drove over the bridge a few- 
days later and upon returning shortly after he found 
that two sectiims had dropped from their place and 
the bridge was impassable, and he had to cross bv 
the free bridge. They were repaired and the bridge 
was used for several vears. 

Upon the sale of the effects of the Bridge Co. the 
timber in the bridge was purchased by .Mr. Scoby of 
Union Springs. Mr. John Story of Bridgeport 
attended and remembers the sale. Mr. Scobv re- 
moved the timber as he sold it. The planking from 
the north side was sold first and removed. .\ little 
girl, a Miss Burroughs, was drowned by falling 
through the north side, in 185(1. There are a number 
of buildings yet standing in Cayuga and I'nion 
Springs that were built from the timbers of the 
Cayuga bridge. .\ notable one was the building 
from which one of the last stage lines in the 
State starteil. This was a four-horse Cimcord 
I'oach that ran between Cayuga and Kings Bridge 
with a rel-iy of horses at .\urora. The building was 




J. W. MACKIN. ManaK^er. 



GENTLEMAN'S FUKNISHING GOODS .STOKE. 
Established by Araoa G. Kenyon. 



'GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR Ol-' SENJiCA FALLS. 



129 



B 


':^:l E.c.DAvis&co.|;rsi^! 




A^^^^^^^H 


T * L.A.W. ■ '^^ 




jj^^ 


r •:"^-..^ , ^SBIP 








m 


iBIilstfSBBBiliHIH 



Pruden. Photo. E. C. DAVIS \- COS BICl'CLE SldKE 

near the landing of the ferry that succeeded the 
bridge company. The roach was last run by Capt. 
Candee. 

The timbers from the south side of the bridge were 
not removed until after i8j8, as a number of persons, 
including the writer, remember driving over as late 
as the summer of that }'ear. 

State appropriation was secured by the Hon. H. M. 
Glen in 1894, for removing the spiles and cribbing. 
The amount appropriated was §3,000, to be ex- 
pended under the direction of the Superintendent of 
Public Works. The appropriation was insulKcient 
and some of the spile ami tiie cribbing vet remain in 
the lake. 



Mrs. E. M. Cox-Fralich has 

btin tu business in the srme 
store she now occupies, No. 92 
1' .ill street, over nineteen years. 
I ntil two years ago she engaged 
wholly as a milliner, occupying 
only part of the store. R.Golder, 
her father, carried on a variety 
goods business there and when at 
the time referred to he retired, 
-Mrs. Eralich enlarged her busi- 
ness, taking full po^session of the 
premises and stocking up with 
everything in the line of ladies' 
wear. It is one of the largest 
stores in town and in consequence 
of the completeness and variety 
ot goods M;s. I'ralich handles, it 
is favored with an e.\lensive trade 
exclusively in the very best line 
of goods. Here it is that the 
ladies are supplied with tl.e best 
including tailor made suits, 
ordered by measurement from 
French tailors in New- York and 
guaranteed perfect fit. Mrs. Fralich has had an ex- 
perience of 25 years as milliner and is regarded as 
competent and up-to-date. 

Great Lakes, Area — Superior, 360 miles long; 
32,000 square miles. Barkal, 370 long; 17,750 sq. m. 
Michigan, 340; 22,400. Great Slave, 300; 8,000. 
Winnipeg, 264; 8,500. Huron, 250; 21,000. Erie, 240; 
9,600. Athabasca, 230; 4,600. Ontario, 190; 6,300. 
Xicaraugua, no; 2,830. Maracaibo, 100; 7,500. 
Great Bear, 150; 14,000. Ladoga, 120; 6,804. 
Champlain, 126, 1,500. Lake of the Woods, 
85; 7,650. Great Salt Lake, 90; 2,290. Constance, 
44; 200. Geneva, ' 53;lf490. George,! 36; no. 
Cayuga, 38; 104. Utah, 24: 130. 




Prud.-n, Plintu. .MH.<. K. .M. Ci iX-?'li.V I.ICH .< LADIES' Kf l;N ISIII Nti GClliDS S|-iiKK 



13° 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA lALLS. 











■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOU\'F.XlR OF SFATXA FALLS. 



13' 



Rumsey & Co., Limited. — The history of commerce, and always employing the best mechani- 

K'uinsev & Co., Liniiteil, is the history of the iron cal skill, the company has originated and placed on 

piMiip business of the worLI. I'niinded bv John .A. the marUet a greater variety of pumps than all the 

Uumsev, a pioneer in thMii.-inuf.'icture of iron pumps, other manufacturers combined, and although their 

til' factorv was started at the e-istern en 1 of the vil- styles have be »n copied largely by some forty odd 

l.ige cm the Seneca canal, employing at the begin- .Vmerican, and many foreign manufacturers, the 

iiiMj,' less than hirtv m -n. I'h ■ firm cnnsisted o' name of "Rumsoy" has always befn pre-eminent, and 







I'AUT OK THE PRODLX-TS MAN IFArTfltKl) liV lir.MSBY A: (X), LI.MITHI). 



liilm .\. Rum>e\-, Muses Rumsey and Warren .1. 
Chatham. The growth of tlie industry was phenom- 
enal, and to the original pl.uit was added building 
after building to supply the rapidly increasing busi- 
ness, each being equipped with the best mirhiiu'ry 
obtainable at that time for tha production of tiie 
goods. ICver alert to meet the growing demands of 



the trade througliout the world Unows that that 
name on a pump is a guarantee of its e.\celience. 

In addition to hand pumps of whicfi the company 
manufacture over one thousand different styles and 
kinds for everv conceivable purpose, they make a full 
line of Power pumps, Centrifugal, Rotary, Double 
.\cting and Triplc.v, both belt and electric driven. 



I3J 



"GRIPS • HISTORICAL. SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



;iiid were the first makers of Triplex pumps in this 
ci>untry. This department ah me of their business 
has grciwn so rapidly that they have recently erected 
a large new building to be devoted solely to that 
work, and it is now being equipped with travelling 
cranes and the heaviest and most improved macliin- 
ery. One machine alone, the largest ever brought to 
Seneca Falls, weighs nearly thirty tons and is used 
for boring and macliining the frames of heavv pres- 
sure and water works pumps. Their line of Triplex 
pumps ranges from one and one-half gallons per 
minute to over fifteen hundred gallons per n.inute, 
and in pressures from one hundred pounds per 
square inch to eight thousand pounds per square 
inch, or sufficient to raise a ctjlumn of \\'ater to a 
height of three and one-half miles. 

The original partnership of Rumsey iS: Co. was 
suiceeded in i>*73 by the present organization of 
Rumsey & Co., I^imited. its founder .John .-\. Rumsev 
being the president and sole owner until his death in 
i888. The company own all the land extending for 
nearly a Haifa mile along what is known as the 
lower level, from which their power is obtained. 
Thev have three turbine wheels giving a combined 
capacity of two hundred and fifty horse power, the 
best and most reliable w-ater power in the village. 
The buildings large and attractive in appearance 
cover more then two acres and have a combined floor 
area of three hundred thousand square feet. The 
foundry an important part in a plant of this kind, 
has been equipped in the past few years with the 
most modern molding machinery, operated by com- 
pressed air and all the smaller work through the fac- 
tory is handled by compressed iiir tr^n'elling hoists. 

The export trade of Rumsey it Co., Limited, is pro- 
bably larger than that of any other factory of its 
kmd in the w<irld. .A visitor to their export depart- 
ment will find goods being packed for shipment to 
all quarters of the globe and it is a fact that there is 
not a civilized country in the world where Rumsey 
pumps are not well known and regularly sold. The 
company give employment to several hundred of the 
most skilled mectianics and their tor»l equipment is 
the finest and most modern money can purchase, 
fhe present oflicers of the company are Henry R. 
-Micks president, Mrs. .Anna Rumsey vice president, 
H. A. Wessell treasurer, and 1,. Rumsey Sanford, 
secretary. 

A pleasant incident at the recent annual meeting of 
Rumsey & Co., Limited, was the presence of .Mrs. Rum- 
sey, widow of the founder of the company. .Although 
over eighty years of .age she was able to participate 
in the business meeting and to be especially impres- 
sed and pleased with tlie continued growth and 
prosperity of the company. 

Fires of Years Past: I~rom the niar\' of an Old 
Fireman; Old Engine Houses; Burial of Fore- 
man (ioetchus; Hose Cart Used for a Hearse. 

From recollection and data in a diary kept by 
Henry Churchill, a prominent and active fireman for 
42 years, his daughter and son, Laura and James, 
furnished the following: In 1852 Henry Churchill, a 
mould' r with Downs & Co., became a member of 
Seneca Chief Co. No. 2, whose quarters were in tin- 
blacksmith shop on Bridge street, which disbanded 
in 1862. Wni. Goetchus, the foreman, was drowned 
in the raceway near the Lewis shops and his remains 
were taken to the grave on the hose cart draped for 
the occasion. Henry Churchill was next a member 
of Rescue Engine Co. Xo. 3, house on Cavuga street, 
(south of the Daniels estate and within a few months 
past torn down), and in 1863 became foreman. Then 
a new brick house was built on Bavard street which 



was burned in iSSo. The company moved in with 
the old Button hand engine which was replaced in 
.lulv, 1868, liy a Silsby engine. No. i company had 
a steamer as early as i8bo. fhe old engine was 
stored in a barn and afterwards used by Red Rovers 
and later by the (ileasoii Patrols 

In i8f>q the paid Fire department was organized. 
Mr. Churchill for nmv ye ir^ was fir; warden, 
going about through the shop^ and village generally, 
looking for dangerous fire traps, 'fhe fire in 1853 
burned a clock factory, cotton mill, sash .and blind 
factory. The heat was so fierce firemen jumped into 
the raceway. Sparks spreading about town set 
small fires that were quickly extinguished. 

The first big fire on Fall street, burning the south 
side, was Dec. ifi, 1850. beginning at the Skidmore 
building, where the Seneca house now stands, and 
sweeping through to the Seeley shoe store, about 
where Crowell's market is. .\bout i860 or fn the 
old stone shop, Ovid and Cjreen streets, was burned, 
the ruins standing for a number of years. 

On .Ian. if>, 1869, the Hoskins block, at Fall and 
Cavuga streets, and the building east, a hardware 
store occupied bv Mr. Pontius, burned — a hot fire, 
difficult to fight. The weather was intensely cold 
and the hose burst or was cut, covering the firemen 
with water that froze upon them. 

Rescue Co. No. 3 on the night of July 3, 18(18, the 
same dav they received the new- steamer, were called 
to the old red mills fire, and for the next ten weeks 
there was a fire every Saturday night, one of them 
being the old fourth ward school house. 

In 1870 came the fire of the machine shops of the 
(ioulds Manufacturing Co., which threw many mei. 
out of employment. The Johnson coal and lumber 
yards on Bayard street caught fire, Jan. 6, 1873. No. 
3's steamer worked from q o'clock in the evening 
until II a. m. the next day. 

On May i, 187^, three old wooden landmarks 
which stood about on the present site of the Miller 
block, and an old barn occupied by Plattner, the 
hackman, were burned. On March j, 1875, the old 
.American hotel, northwest corner of Ovid and Bayard 
streets, was burned. It was a brick structure built 
about the time of the Cuddeback block across the 
street, and was once the "best" hotel in town. On 
Jan. 3, 1880, the old "Crystal Palace" on Bayard 
street was burned. Four or five families lived there, 
including a character called "the fortune teller." It 
was rebuilt and used as a repair shop by Mr. Cross 
and was again burned down. No. 3's engine house 
and barn, together with the jail on Bayard street 
were burned Nov. 28, 1880. The present engine 
house was built as soon as possible. 

The fire of Julv 30, i8qo, the most destructive (an 
account is published on page 123) burned with such 
force and rapidity that the firemen had no chance. 
When the flames leaped across Fall street the firemen 
barely escaped, leaving behind 300 feet of hose which 
was destroyed. .At 7:15 in the morning the fire was 
under control but the firemen worked all that day 
and the following night and most of the next day 
on the smouldering ruins. Chief Jewhurst of .Auburn 
sent a quantity of hose which he gave to the village. 
The Partridge block was rebuilt very soon after and 
was again burned, in the winter of 1893. The Shel- 
don block, left standing by the fire of iSqo, was 
burned July 11 or 12. 1844. 

First Meeting House- On Sept. 17, 1817, a 
small, uniMit. ntnajs l)uildingon the site of the Pres- 
byterian church Cayuga street was dedicated to the 
"worship of the Triune God." Rev. Stephen Porter 
of 0\ id preached the sermon and Rev. Moses '^'oung 
of Romulus offered the prayer. 



"GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



133 



Knights o£ Columbus. — Tliis order is a societv 
III C;ithiili.s |,,iiiiilr[l ,ili. .11 1 JO years ago and has a 
liit'iiihrrship of upwards of 100.000. Seneca Kails 
Comicil, No. 222, was instituted Mav q, 1847, bv 
Rochester Council, No. 17S. It has tlirivcd from the 
start having a large membership with large, com- 
modious and well appointed quarters, is entirely free 
from debt and has a substantial bank account. Its 
membership is composed of representative citizens 
who have done much to furtlier the interests of the 
order throughout the state. 

Presidents of Seneca Falls. — Senter .M. tiid- 
.liTiK- 183N; Sh.ldon Wood 1839; .M. B. BeUovvs 1840, 
'44: Hdward S. Latham 1841; Whiting Race 1842,48; 
Wm. .-\rnett 1843, '59; Elisha Foote 1845; John 
Maynard 1X41. ; J. K. Brown 1847; Silas Keeler 1849: 
,lohn S. Clark 1830; Edward .Mynderse 1851; Samuel 
I). Tillman 1852; Ebenezer Ingalls 1853; Carlton W. 
Seely 1834: Martin L. Bellows 1855; Elijah F. 
Thomas 183(1; John P. Cowing 1837; Jacob Shoe- 
iuaker 1838; Geo. W. Davis i86o-'i; Le Roy C. Part- 
ridge i862-'3; Wm. Beary i864-'7; Hiram P.urt 



MARCH 24, 1804. 

fnder date ol February u. 1904, Diedrich Willers 
writes the Editor of this Souvenir that he has learned 
oflicially from .Albany that the date of the organiz- 
ation of Seneca County is March 24, 1804, instead of 
March 29, which is the date heretofore general!}- 
given — an error which appears in this work in the 
following articles: Boundary Changes, page 16; 
Genealogy, page is: Seneca Ccjunty Centennial, 
page 32; Towns of Seneca County, page 64. 

Old Academy; Public E.xhibitions; Distin- 
^uishetl .Men who were Students. 

Writing of school e.\hibitions in the old academy 
.Miss .\nna E. Henion says: — "They were held in the 
old Presbyterian church. The students taking part 
were seated on a platform in front of the pulpit, 
while the brass band held forth in the gallery. It 
was a time of wild enjoyment. .An interesting one 
was held in I'nion Hall in 1859, under the direction 
of . I. Marshall Ciuion. There were essays by voung 




Pruden, Pliiito. SENECA FALLS CdlNCIL, NO. 232. KNTGHTS OF COLUMBITS. 

Middle Row (from left to ri^ht)— Charles S. Fegle^', Reoordins Secretary; John H. O'Brien, Grand Kniifht- 
Edward S. Gurry. District Deputy; .Joseph P. Casey, Deputy Grand KniKlit; .lames G. McKeon, Financial 
Secretary; Thomas .1. Clary. Past Grand Knight. Lower Row— Patrick .7. Rvan, Tr\istee; Frank J. Durnin, 
Warden; Thomas MeGovcrn, Trustt-e. Top Row-William Flanagan, Lecturer: .lames Fay, Treasurer; 
Charles S McBride. Chancellor; Ambrose Casey, Trustee; Wni. S. Ca^ey, Organist. 



i'Sf.8-'(): George li. Daniels 1870-'!; Pryce W. Bailey 
i872-'3, i89b-'7. [In 1896 the regular election re- 
sulted in a tie between P. W. Bailev and John Kaiser, 
necessitating a special election at which the former 
was elected.] Henry Stowell i874-'3; Delancev E. 
Partridge i87t.-'7; Wm. H. Pollard i878-'8i: Henry 
r, Noves i882-'3; Cornelius S. Hood 1884-'^, George 
Shandley i88G-'7; Wm. \'. Rensselaer" 188S-9; 
l-.ugene .\. Runisey iSgo-'i; .lohn F. Crosby i892-'3: 
.1. T. Yawger i894-'3; Wni. .\I. FoUett 1898-1901: J. 
Spencer Purdy 1902. [Dr. Purdv was twice elected 
that year, .fan. 14 and .March 18, making him the last 
jiresident under the special charter for Seneca Falls 
and the first president under the general charter for 
villages which was adopted at the January election, 
and giving him two terms aggregating fourteen 
months,^ Fn il Kinnian 1903. 

The First Clerk of Seneca county was Dr. Silas 
Halsey, who served from .April 2, 1804 the date of his 
appointment (with the interval of one vear) to some 
time in iSig. 



ladies and gentleman, an address bv Wm. H. Bogart 
of .Aurora, music and a collation. The first com- 
mencement proper was during the administration of 
Mr. Fancher and diplomas were given to six gradu- 
ates, four girls and two boys." 

Of the students in the old academy Miss Henion 
mentions such distinguished men of recent years as 
"Rear Admiral .A. S. Crowninshield who went from 
the academy to .Annapolis; Lieut. Com. Henrv B. 
Seely; Edward /Calinski of dynamite gun fame; Hon. 
Diedrich Willers, formerly secretary of state of New 
York; Wilhelmus Mynderse a lawyer of note in New 
A'ork city; Hon. Frederick S. Gibbs of New York, 
who has done so much to elevate artistic taste 
among our students by giving them fine pictures to 
look at, and several successful ministers. In our own 
town today several of the merchants, lawyers, editors, 
business men, manufacturers and five of the medical 
fraternity were educated at our academy." 



i.U 



IRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




WM. .1. .IMIINSOX. 



C. J. .iOlLNSON. 



William Johnson \v,i> best known to a large 
y-ircle of acquaintances throughout the state as a 
prominent member of the state senate in the early 
seventies, an eminent statesman wlio was conspicu- 
ous in public alTairs of that time, and as a war denio- 
rrat a valued supporter of the Union cause when the 
states were threatened with disruption. Of English 
descent, the son of David and Olive S. Johnson, he 
was born in Williamstown. Berkshire county, .Mass., 
Dec. 8, 182 1. During his childhood his parents 
located at I'rankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y. There 
his father died while the subject of our sketch was a 



small boy. leaving a family with inadequate means 
of support, and the bov William thrown on his ow-n 
resources. Hv pluck and perseverance he made his 
own wav to a high position. .Vt 14 years of age he 
entered upon the studv of mechanics and before he 
had obtained his majority he had become engaged as 
a contractor on public works, which when he was 23 
vears old, brought him to Seneca Falls. 

In 1883 he married Angeline, the daughter of .Inicib 
1'. Chamberlain, bv whom there were born five sons. 
During the vears of 1844 and 183^ inclusive, he wa> 
a large contractor on the canals and railroads of the 
state. Then he entered into the manufacture of 
woolen goods in Seneca I'alls. in which he was 
engaged when in iS(>o he was elected member of the 
state assemblv. .\ democrat in politics, he was able 
and vigorous in upholding the best doctrines of his 
partv and was a strong supporter of the Union cause. 

.\t the outbreak of the rebellicm in 1861 Gov. Mor- 
gan appointed him representative of Seneca county 
on the war committee and commissioned him to raise 
troops and supplies in this section with headquarters 
at Geneva, X. V. In a remarkably short time he had 
established the recruiting camp, known as Camp 
Swift and with wonderful push and promptness had 
mustered in and started for the seat of war in si.x- 
teen days a regiment with the full complement of 
1200 men, the I48tli regiment. He was not the man 
to sav go. Selected as colonel of the regiment he 
led the men to the front and for a year and a half, 
until poor health comiJelled him to resign, he was 
their commander. Returning home, he was not 
idle, for during the remainder of the war he gave to 
the cause of perpetuity of federal government, both 
his personal influence and means. 

In the fall of 1871 he was elected by the democrats 
to represent the 2fith senatorial district (Ontario 
Seneca and Yates counties) in the state legislature. 
In a large district which was normally republican by 
1000 majoritv his brilliant services for his country 




Pniden. Vhotn. CLARK BROTHERS' GROCERY AND PROVISION STORE. 



■•GRIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVF.XIR OF SF.XF.CA FALLS. 



135 




r. M. I!II,L8. 

gave him a mnjurity ol 1300. In the slate senate he 
was rhairman of the Tweed investigating committee, 
and so vigorous was he in prosecuting the inquiry 
that the committee brought out a full report of one of 
the greatest public scandals of the time. Col. John- 
son was re-elected and served the second term with 
'tiual brilliancy and ability. 

For several years he was engaged in active busi- 
ness in New York as well as at home. He was 
generally a promoter of public utilities in Seneca 
I .dls and was highly esteemed for his many per- 
^^mal qualities. He was possessed of a kind and 
generous nature, a warm social disposition and a 
frankness that made him a larg^ circle of close per- 



sonal friends. He was eminently successful in his 
ventures which was largely owing to his breadth of 
intellect, indefatigable zeal and rare devotion U) his 
projects. 

Iks death which occurred (\t. 11, 1X75, was coni- 
I'arativtly sudden. Returning from New York, he 
was taken ill at 4 o'clock in the aftr>rn<.<in .iiirl dird 
at 3 o'clock the next morning. 

Charles Chamberlain Johnson, the onlv sur- 

\i\niL;-"in cl C^'l. Willjajii ;(iul Aug, line Chamber- 
lain .lohnson, was born in New York city, then the 
home of Col. Johnson. In the early seventies he 
became a resident of Seneca Falls and has since lived 
here, in the handsome family residence on Cayuga 
street. Mr. Johnsc«n. who is a practicing lawyer, is a 
graduate of Mynderse .\cademy. class of 188S, and 
Cornell Cniversity, class of 1892. and he has taken a 
post graduate course in law at the Columbia College 
L.iw School, New York city. Mr. Johnson is active 
in public affairs. In i8qo-'f) he was owner and 
manager of the .lohnson Opera House. He was 
admitted to the bar in ,lunc. i>*92, and served as dis- 
trict attorney of Seneca county in iSqO-'y. 

He is a member of the Military Order of the Loval 
Legion, of the Masonic Order, the Sons of ^'eterans, 
the Maccabees, the college fraternity Alpha Delta Phi, 
the .\lpha Delta Phi Club of New York City and 
other clubs and sncieties. 

The Hoag House which under the present man- 
agement stands today on a level with the best 
appointed and most ably conducted of hotels, is com- 
p.trati\rl\ a new' house, built in 1S95, and possessing 
all modern improvements. T'rollev connections 
between Geneva, Waterloo and Seneca Falls 
makes it an easy matter to get Ijctween the three 
towns on half-hourly cars, and the result is that the 
Hoag has been largelv favored with the transient 
trade, catering as it does exclusively to that class, 
and is generally made the headquarters for travelling 
men having business in those three towns. Mr. C. 
M. Bills, the proprietor, is a New Yf>rk man and 




THi; ni>-vr. Hcirsi-: 



136 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




Pruden, Photo. 

JOHN O'BRIEN. 

upim taking possession nt the house .Vug. i. 1903, he 
introduced those features throughout which people 
who like to live well appreciate. 

The building, an imposing structure of brick with 
stone trimmings and entrances on two streets, is 
hnished throughout in oak graining, the main floor 
being laid with tile. The office, lobbies, vestibules, 
writing room and barber shop are lighted with plate 
glass windows. There are fifty rooms in the house 
and a seating capacity of a hundred in the dining 
room. The furnishings as well as the hnishings, are 
up-to date. 

Mr. Bills has the faculty and good sense to keep a 



competent office staff and the best help throughout 
the house. Mr. W. B. Harper is the bookkeeper and 
Mr. R. A. Schindel the clerk. The barber shop is in 
the hands of good w'orkmen. The chef is up to the 
latest in the cuisine and the dining room attendance 
could not be improved. Those who have visited the 
house will not consider the above statements exag- 
erated and Seneca Falls which in the beginning 
contributed so liberally to secure the erection of a 
first class hotel building has not been disappointed 
in getting the man who was needed to make the 
house what the travelling public wanted. 

John O'Brien, one of the largest coal dealers in 
Seneca county, was born in Marcellus, Oct. 15, I'^jt^, 
and attended school until 19 years of age, finally 
being graduated at old No. 3 school, class of '77, 
Geddes. to which place his parents moved in 1869. 
Engaging in the produce business with his brother 
Adalbert, Mr. O'Brien made his home in Lyons, N. Y., 
three years. Then, in 1880, he accepted the posi- 
tion of buyer of raw material for the Penfield, N. \'., 
paper mills, conducted by his brother-in-law, D. T. 
Lawless, afterwards learning the trade of paper 
maker and taking the foremanship of the mills. 
During the same time, i883-'6, he was a partner in 
the hotel business at Penfield with his brother. On 
June 16. 1886, he married Catherine, the daughter of 
Michael Gilmore of Seneca Falls and in the spring of 
1887 thev moved to this village, where for four years 
Mr. O'Brien, whose health required out-door exer- 
cise, delivered groceries for C. L. Story. On the 
recommendation of the bank which recognized his 
careful business methods, he was five successive times 
appointed collector of town and village taxes. 

In 1891 Mr. O'Brien leased the small coal yard of 
P. H. Burns on Oak street where he carried on the 
business three years. Then, enjoying a large trade 
which he had drawn to him, he leased the large 
yards of the Gould Manufacturing Co. at Lock and 
Canal Stieets. This gave him facilities for expanding 
the business considerably. On Aug. 2, 1896, the 




Piiiilen, Pilot o. 



JOHN OBRIEXS RESIDENCE- 



■GRIPS- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA KALES, 



'37 




From a drawing: by Fred Teller. 

THE ULD TOLL GATE AND BRIDGE CROSSING CAYUGA LAKE. 
[See History of Bridge, page Sf; also "Toll Gate House" page 142.] 



buildings, standin"? i>ii the bank of the canal, col- 
lapsed and emptied 500 tons of coal into the water, 
Idling up a part of the short Jgvel at that point. By 
rigging up derricks and perforated buckets he saved 
the coal, a thoroughly washed lot of coal which 
everybody wanted. Then he purchased the properts 
and built elex'ated yards with the capacity t>f -500 
tons, accessible both by water and rail. Here he 
hantlles both the Lehigh \'allev and the Philadelphia 
& Reading coal. 

.Mr. O'Brien is an active member of several local 
orders — the district deputy in the Catholic Mutual 
Benefit association, the grand knight in the Seneca 
Falls Council, Knights of Columbus and the trea- 



surer of the Seneca Falls 
Division, .Vncient Order of 
Hibernians, being a charter 
member of the two latter 
organizatiiins. 

Seneca Falls; llo-v 

the Town was Erected and 
What it Comprises- [By 
Oiedrich VVillers] — The 
town of Seneca Falls, while 
the most populas town in 
Seneca county has, with a 
single exception, the small- 
est territorial area and 
acreage. It comprises lots 
71-76 (inclusive), lots 83-86 
(inclusive) and lots 99 and 
100 of the Military Town- 
ship of Junius — twelve lots. 
640 acres each, aggregat- 
ing 7,680 acres, on the 
north side of Seneca ri\'er. 
On the south side of the 
river it comprises 7,564 
acres, viz: Lots 6-9 (in- 
clusive) — 2,560 acres — of 
the Military Township of 
Romulus lying west of the 
reservation road running 
village of Seneca F'alls, and lots 



south from the 
I -2 1 (inclusive)— 5,004 acres — in the West Cayuga 
reservation lying east of the reservation road. The 
acreage for both sides of the river is 15,244 acres. 
• When the question of the division of the town of 
Fayette (old Washington) was submitted to the town 
meeting of that town in 1802, a committee of five 
citizens was appointed to petition the legislature for 
a division by the waters of the .Seneca outlet (river). 
This committee consisted of .lames McClung, Wil- 
helmus Mynderse, Josiah Crane, David Southwick 
and .\masa Sherman, all of whom, with the excep- 
tion of McClung, resided north of Seneca river. 
The legislature of 1803 in dividing the town of 




Pruden, Photo. 



.JOHN H.OBKIENS (OAL V.\UD. 



■3« 



"GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




I). M. KELLUGG. 

I'iivette and ert-rtiiij; tlio lown nf Junius, tunk 7,3*14 
acres from Favette smith uf the Seneca river and 
added the same ti) the entire area of the Militarv 
township of Junius, ajul other lands north of the 
Seneca river, in erecting the new town of Junius 
which then extended north to Lake Ont.irio. 

Evidently the whole matter was skillfully man- 
aged in the selection at town meeting of the com- 
mittee on legislation division, and the master hand 
of Col. Mvnderse and his associates of the Bayard 
Land Co. in securing this division is plainly manite^'. 
I'or several vears the town of Fayette enJea\(ired to 
recover the 7,jf'4 acres, but always failed. 



D wight M. Kellogg was born in the town of 
Moravia, C'ayuga Co., X. Y., Jan. i8, 1852, liis 
father. David W. Kellogg, being a native of Lock, in 
the same county. Mr. Kellogg, after reaching 21 
\Tars of age, started in the livery business at Moravia 
which hi- conduited successfully for a year, then 
nioNC'd to I'ort Byron, X. "l'.. engaging in buying and 
selling horses in connection with a li\ery. In the 
spring of iSS/; he opened a livery in stables standing 
on ilic iiresent site of Charles S. Sanderson's building 
where he was burned out in the big hre of 1890. Thr 
next four vears he occupied the old Hoag house 
stable which was not burned with the hotel. Then 
he purchased the old building and the vacant prop- 
erty extending front and rear to State and Mvnderse 
streets, together with tlie tliree story brick stable of 
.\. C. Ciibbs on the north wliii'a had been an old 
liverv st.inil for a hall century. Then he erected his 
present niipnsnig lin k stable cmuiected with the old 
buildings and a new slru.'ture extending t iward 
Mvnderse street. ' It is a \er\" hue edifice wathout 
anv superior for its purpose in Central Xew ^■ork, 
fortv feet from ground to roof and surmounted with 
a ventilating tower. The new and the Ciibbs build- 
ings together ha\e a front of 85 feet and the greatest 
depth is 173 feet. They are lighted with electricity 
,ind modern in all respects. Here can be regularly 
accommodated 100 horses, although double the num- 
ber have been cared for.. The office is finely finished 
and there is also a ladies' waiting room. Every con- 
venience for a hitching stable is provided. The 
Moors are connected by an elevator and above are 
provided public storage rooms. The important part 
of Mr. Kellogg's business is buying and selling fancv 
horses; and he also de.als in hay and straw. In all 
respects he keeps pace with the times in livery equip- 
ments. Mr. Kellogg is a member of the Masonic 
order. On March 22. iS^77. he married M:ss Ida (i. 
Mattoon of Mora\ia. X. ^■, I'.irt U. Kellogg, their 
sou, is Connected with tin- man.ag^nient of the 
business. 




I) M. KKI.I.DGG'S I,I\'KI{Y .\X1) S.VI.E ST.Vni.ES 



I 



•GKirs' HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 




('APT. OREN TYLEK. 

George P. Clark, the stationer and book dealer, 
No. i_j7 Fall street, came to Seneca Falls, April i, 
H)o^, after a service of 25 years with the Lehigh \'al- 
ley railroad. The business, which he purchased of 
Charles H. Knight, has been running several years. 
Mr. Clark has greatly increased his trade by close 
attention to the wants of his patrons. His business 
comprises not only everything in the line of books, 
school and stationers' supplies, but patent medicines 
.'It cut rates. 

Capt. Oren Tyler. — Comfiirt and .lob Tvler, 
iwo of seven sons of Puritan .nul Rrvolutionarv 
stoik. were born in .\shf<ird, Conn., and shortly after 
the i-lose of the w.ir for independrncc emigrated to 



the then New York wilderness, .lob Tvler first set- 
tled in liridgewater, Oneida Co., where Oren Tyler. 
the subject of this sketch, was be rn on the Jist (la\- 
of August, 1795. He afterwards with his fannlv 
moved to Onondaga Valley, where Oren Tyler lu 
earl\ manhood started in business for himself. .\n 
anecdote of him is apropos here. Having but a 
sii all cnintal lie went to \eu '^'ork to purchase a 
stock of gooiK. liikninMi m that cit\, he lin.-illv 
■-elc-c ted a mcTcliant whom lie thought was the right 
nan for his inirpose, as the event proved. To this 
total stranger he made known his wishes. The old 
merchant eyed him sharply, then said: "Young man, 
w hat is your way of doing business?" Ouickly came 
the reply, "I would rather cry over mv good's thnn 
cry aftei them. Would rather have them left 
over than to mourn their loss on credit." "You can 
li ivc all llir credit you wish." He succeeded in busi- 
iic-vs, but caring more fc r agricultu'e than merchan- 
dise, he moved to the town Of Sc'nc'ca I'alls in iS^j:;, 
attiacted by the fame of the rich soil of that section, 
wliicli was peculiarly adapted for raising wheat, 
where he |)urchased the Senile farm on Cayuga 
lake, about one mile north of the celebrated 
bridge of that name. This bridge, over a mile long. 
Comfort Tyler, his uncle, a noted engineer and 
soldier, h,-icl mu(-h to do with in the survevs, and in 
its construction. The farm was a fertile c'>ne which 
under Captain Tvler's management produced boun- 
tifully. 

■As his family increased and grew up he realized 
the necessity of obtaining better educational advan- 
tages, andpurchased the Goodwin farm in the village 
of Seneca Falls, about the vear 1844. There he 
lived until his death. 

He was ccmtemporaneous and persona Uv associ- 
ated with the prominent men of Onondaga, Cayuga 
and Seneca counties, among his friends being Gov. 
Seward, Thurlow Weed, Dean Richmond, Judge 
,S.nrkett and many others. In politics he was a zeal- 
ous Whig until that party was merged into the 
Republican, he remaining true to his convictions to 
the end. Feeling his responsibilit\- as a citizen, he 
counted it a pri\ ilege to \iite, being cjften the first 
I ne ,ii the polls. In the heated campaign of i.Sho he 




I'ruileii. Fliiiic). 



F. CLARK'S NEWS ROOM A.M) STATIONERY STORE. 



140 



'•GRIPS' HISTORICAL SOUVtNTR OF SENECA FALLS. 




HENHY P WESTCOTT. 

took an active and aggressive part, and on the day 
of election was constantly at the polls. In one hand 
he held the Republican ballots, and in the other the 
Democratic. --\s the voters came up he said to them, 
"Here is the ticket of CTod and the right, and here 
the devil and the wrong; make your choice. " He 
was elected captain of a militia company in his 
vounger days, and his patriotism never flagged. 
When the great war of the rebellion broke out, re- 
gretting he was too old to shoulder the musket in 
defense of his country, he did all he could for the 
Union cause, and was represented in the l"nion forces 
bv two sons, two sons-in-law and nephews. Modestly 
retiring, he never sought oflice, and declined many 
positions of trust offered to him. Cautious in the 
extreme, he hever accumulated wealth, but had a 
sufficiency for his large and growing family, giving 
them everv facility in his power for their advance- 
ment in knowledge and social standing. Honest, 
upright, courageous, respected by klns'olk and 
friends, he r onim.inded the esteem of the old, and 
attracting the Niunig, his house and ur imds became 



the rendezvous for children fr(jm far and near, whose 
sports he watched with keen interest. Fond of music, 
he played the flute, entertaining many a friend with 
old time melodies. Singing w'as his delight and his 
voice was heard many years in the choir of the 
Presbyterian church, he standing side .by side with 
Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Gould and -Mrs. C. L. Hoskins. 

He was a true disciple of Isaak Walton and often 
in the gloaming, for recreation after a hard day's 
work, this "lone hsherman " could be found on the 
bank of the river, rod in hand. Rarely he returned 
home without a "catch. " 

While in Onondaga he became interested in and 
had friendly dealings with the Indians of the Onon- 
daga tribe who were then quite numerous. He was 
adopted by them and spoke their language fluently. 
When parties of them roamed the country, being 
provided with free transportation, they often passed 
through Seneca Falls selling bead work and baskets. 
Frequently stopping, as suited their convenience, 
they sought out their "brother," as they called Capt. 
Tvier, who always befriended them, .\sher Tyler, 
his brother, and himself educated the Indian, La 
Porte by name, at Geneva College, .\shtr Tyler was 
also at one time a resident of Seneca Falls, moving 
from there to Cattaraugus county. He was elected 
Member of Congress tiom that district. He was 
commissioner with the Hon. .\. Diven in obtaining 
land titles for the Erie railroad and knew every foot 
of the land surveyed from start to finish. 

Captain Tyler was three times married, his first 
wife being Huldah W. Marsh, to whom two children 
were born, Edwin Job, who attained the rank of cap- 
tain in the late civil war and was distinguished for 
bravery, and liUen. His second wife was Elizabetli 
Longstreet, granddaughter of Comfort Tyler, who 
left one child, Celia Dohorah. His third wife was 
Xancv Bliss, of Hartford, Conn., to whom six chil- 
dren were born, Darwin, Caroline Bliss, Charlotte, 
Mary Elizabeth, Seneca, who served three years in 
the war, and Welthea Butler, Capt. Tyler died the 
13th of January, 1873, in his 8oth year. .-X pioneer 
of known ability, a faithful citizen, a strong charac- 
ter, he left behind him a iiieii^'rv and an example 
W'>rtli\- nf emulation. 

Roy W. 'Y'awger, 'n\ iier nf the large lumber 
and coal business located at the foot of Water street, 
was born in Cnion Springs, X. Y., Oct. i, 187I'. 
Whrn he was twn years old his parents moved to .1 
farm in Siueca county, which was his home until he 
was twelve years i>ld. wlu'ii ihev nM\ed into the \il- 




UnV \V. YAWGER. 



KOV W. VAWCEICS COAL AND LT'MBER YARDS. 



■GRIP S- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SEKECA FALLS. 



14' 




ALIiEltT COOK 

lage of Seneca Falls. While on the farm he]worked 
summers and attended school winters. l'"aithful to 
his studies ' while at school in the village, he was 
graduated the president and valedictorian of the class 
of g^ in .Mynderse .Academy. Then he went to 
Hamilton College, where he was graduated with the 
class of '99 with the degree of .\. B. He was a mem- 
ber of the Psi Upsilon Fraternitv. The next year 
and a half he was clerk in a bank in Seattle, Wash. 
On account of ill health he shipped on board a sail- 
ing vessel to the Hawaiian Islands and from there to 
.San Francisco, returning to Seneca Falls via Mexico 
and Xew Orleans. In March. 1901. at the age of 
J4, he purchased the old Latham & Osborne coal 
business, which he has conducted in a manner that 
has largelv increased the trade and has gix'en it a 
good standing among the business enterprises of the 
village. 

Henry P. Westcott. — .\mong the earliest man- 
ufacturers of St'iiec.i l;ills none was more progressive 
than the subject of this sketch, Henry P. Westcott. 
Mr. Westcott was born in Newport. R. I., in i8o8> 
where he learned the sash and blind makers" trade 
;ind later started in business for himself in 
Tru.vton, N. Y., from which place he removed 
to Seneca Fails in 1847. Here, in company 
with his brother, Eduin j. Westcott. and 
Hiram -Miller, both of Philadelphia, he 
engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors 
and blinds on an extensive scale. 'I'he old 
cotton factory, a five-story building, standing 
on the site of the present Gleason Mills, was 
occupied for the business and was fitted up 
with machinery invented and made bv Mr. 
Westcott. .\lmost the entire product of the 
factory was shipped in bulk to Philadelphia 
where it found a ready n arket. Previous to 
this time these goods h.ad been made entirelv 
by hand and to him the industrial world is 
indebted for many improvements in machinerv 
in general use today. The factory was de- 
stroyed in the fire of 1853, but[[was soon re- 
built and the business continued under the 
firm name of Westcott, Downs & Gould. Re- 
tiring from the partnership a few years later 
he erected the original brick building, now a 



part of the Rumsey & Co. works, in which were pro- 
duced the first Venetian blinds made by machinerv, 
which he invented and put into successful operation. 
The business was carried on here until the breaking 
out of the civil war when owing to the greatly ad- 
vanced cost of materials used, it was found impossible 
to continue it profitablv. 

With H. C. Silsby he next embarked in the manu- 
facture of an improved churn and butter pail on 
which he had secured patents, in a well equipped 
factory built for the purpose on the site of the old 
fork factory east of the present marble works. On 
the removal of the business to Belmont, N. V., in 
i8f.8, he .sold his interest and in 1872, in conipanv 
with his sons, Charles H. and Frank Westcott. he 
established the firm of Westcott Brothers, manufac- 
turing a variety of wood specialties. 

Here, too, his experience and in\entive genius were 
invaluable in making successful the business which is 
still carried on by the incorporated Westcotl-Jewell 
Company. 

His death, which occurred on Oct. 29. 1896, at the 
ripe age of 8S years, closed a life of earnest, intelli- 
gent work and upright citizenship. 

Albert Cook was born in Cortland countv in 
1823. He came to Seneca Tails v.hile quite a voung 
man and entered the employ of the late Erastus 
Partridge, who was then engaged in the mercantile 
trade. It was here that he acquired a knowledge of 
the business and business methods which served him 
so successfully in after life. In 1847 he was married 
to Caroline, eldest daughter of .Mr. Partridge, after 
which he engaged in trade at Wolcott, Wavne Co., 
where he remained until the close of the war, when 
he disposed of his business and removed to Lockport, 
where he again took up and continued the mercantile 
business. In .-August, 1873, after the death of .Mr. 
Partridge, he returned to this village and became 
vice president of the First National Bank of Seneca 
Falls. On January 14, 1876, he was elected president 
of the bank to fill the vacancy occasioned by the 
death of Le Roy C. Partridge. Upon Mr. Cook as 
executor and trustee mainly devolved the responsi- 
bility of the care and settlement of the estate of 
Frastus Partridge, which was the largest estate ever 
administered or settled in Seneca county. In the 
discharge of this dut\- he exhibited the same caution 
and tact and honesty of purpose that characterized 
him in his business as a painstaking and successful 
merchant. He was conservative in his views and 
diligent and faithful in the performance of every 




THE lioAKU OF FIKE ( 'O.M .M lst<l oNEKS. 

Clarence H. Williams Michael E. Hanlin 

Jdlin M. I,i-tlci-. 



14^ 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



trust. The First National Bank of which Mr. Cook- 
was president, closed in Xovember, 1880, and the 
banking business was continued by him as executor, 
under the name of the Partridge Banking House. 
In October, 1882, Mr. Cook purchased the bank of 
the estate and continued it as an individual enter- 
prise until the time of his death which occurred in 
October, 1883. 

Mr. Cook was a man who formed strong ties of 
friendship that were steadfast and lasting. His 
domestic virtues, personal e.xcellence of character and 
exemplarv life, endeared him to those who knew him 
and most to those who knew him best. He appreci- 
ated and admired uprightness and nobility of char- 
acter, and in all his dealings and various business 
enterprises he was guided ever by tliose estimable 
qualities and a hne sense of honor. His mind was 
imbued with a deep love for his cxiuntry, and he 
often spoke in terms of tendere?t gratitude of the great 
devotion shown by those who risked and lost their 
lives in the great struggle for its preservation by the 
civil war. 

For some time before his death .Mr. Cook took 
nmch interest in the question as to what he could do 
for the people of Seneca Falls that would be a per- 
petual beneht and pleasure to them. He finally 
settled upon the idea of erecting a monument to the 
memory of the brave soldiers and sailors who gave 
up their lives for their country in the war of the 
rebellion. He instructed his legal counselor to pre- 
pare a change in his will which should devote a 
large sum of monev out of his estate to that purpose. 
His declining health continued so steadily that he 
did not have an opportunity to put his wishes in 
formal legal shape to be carried out. His wife and 
onlv daughter, now Mrs. Waldo Ci. Morse, however, 
being aware of his wishes, with a generosity that 
entitled them to and won them the everlasting grati- 
tude of the whole community, and regardless of the 
fact that they were under no lawful obligation to do 
so, determined to and did devote a very liberal por- 
tion out of his estate for the fulfilment of his worthy 
benefaction. The statelv and beautiful soldiers and 
sailors monument that adorns the public park of 
Seneca Falls, which is the pride of the citizens of the 
village, will ever stand as a lasting record of his 
goodness and patriotism and also of the respect 
shown his memorv by a devoted wife and daughter. 
Mr. Cook was a man who believed in the sentiment 
contained in the old couplet, "Let your good deeds 
be vour pravers to vour God. " He was the kind of 
man who left a community better and happier for 
having li\'e(I in it. 

Toll Gate House 'f the Cayuga Bridge Ci., 
The Portal to the West in Pioneer Days; On 
the Great Western Highway; The Method of 
Constructing Pioneer Homes; The Buried Road 
and its R.-ire Relics of a .Motley Procession 
Resurrected. [See view on page 137J. 

[l)V FRED teller] 

.\ little over a mile east of the outskirts of Seneca 
Falls on the west shore of Cayuga lake, stands an 
old building, weather beaten by the storms of almost 
a century and still bearing its time worn contour on 
the lake side of the village park at Bridgeport. It 
was formerly the toll house of the Cayuga Bridge Co. 
and in its early days was surrounded by quite a set- 
tlem >nt of tave'ns, trading and relay houses and 
other buildings. What a vast procession, what an 
eager, motley throng of pioneers, emigrants and 
earlv settlers have passed by its portal for .Seneca 
Falls, the Gen -si''^ coimtrv. and tlr^ Ohio territ irv 



beyond. Each of necessity was obliged to stop long 
enough at this old house to pay for the privilege of 
using the bridge. The tribute levied was measured 
by the affluence of the passerby. If he had but one 
horse and two wheels to his conveyance he paid fifty 
cents. Had he four wheels and four horses he paid 
accordingly, one dollar and twenty-five cents. 
Nothing escaped that could ride or walk. 

The lower part of this building, the stone base- 
ment was built about the year 1800 and it stands 
today practically as it did when it was first erected. 
The act incorporating the Bridge Co. passed the 
legislature March 28, 1797. The amended charter 
was March i. 1800. The bridge structure was com- 
pleted in the fall of iSoo, or early spring of 1801. 
The toll hou* must have been completed for use by 
the time traffic began. The first bridge that was 
built w-as a little to the south of the later ones, and 
the roadwav to it ran to the south of the house, true 
as a surveyor's line directly west through the center 
of the park to the top of the hill, as you find it laid 
out on the early maps. 

In grading the lawn I ran across this old roadway 
and as 1 uncovered it I found it just as it had been 
abandoned when the new road came into use. In 
removing the stone with which it was embedded 1 
picked up many a relic of those by-gone days. 
Besides horse shoes and the metal parts of harnesses 
were split ox shoes. Oxen and ox carts were the 
common mode of travel in those days. The carts 
were mounted on wheels which were simply solid 
cross scL-tions of a tree trunk with a hole bored 
through the centre to receive the axle. Each pair of 
oxen and a cart paid into the bridge treasury fifty- 
six and a quarter cents. Other articles which I 
found buried in this road were arrow- and flint spear 
heads, German silver spoons and other things drop- 
ped from emigrant wagons. 

The first bridge not having proved a durable 
structure, another one was built two years later, 
parallel to alid a little north of the first. The ori- 
ginal bridge was built on mud sills and some of the 
sections w-ere carried aw.iy by the ice the first winter. 
The new bridge was c instructed by driving spiles 
and was not as high above the water as the other. 
The early authorities state that the old bridge was 
dismantled to furnish material for the new one. The 
entrance to the last bridge and the road leading to it 
ran along the north side of the house as you see it in 
the pen sketch illustrating this article. 

The basement of the toll hou^e w.^s built of stone 
and remains substantially at the present time as it 
was in the year 180:). Th ■ loll office prop.-r was the 
west room connected with the apartments above by 
a dark interior stairway and opening to the north 
into the toll shed. Beside this door is a window fit- 
ted with wooden shutters and iron bars. Views of 
the entire length of the bridge on the east and of the 
road on the west to the top of the hill now in front 
of Mrs. Sarah .Mo-es' residence, were commanded by 
windows fitted with 7x1) panes of window glass. 
Here is also the large fire place taking up most of 
the south side of the basement with its swinging 
crane for the kettle, and beside it the bake oven 
which for proportions rivals a fair sized bakery of 
todav. fioth are today about the same as they were 
originallv. There are also a pantry and a store 
room, aiid a number of fire places throughout the 
building. 

When the upper part of the house was destroyed 
bv fire somewhere about 1813 to 1820 (I have never 
been able to learn the exact date) in the midst of a 
severe old fashioned winter, a large barn belonging 
to the Christopher Baldy tavern was moved on to the 
old foundation which was lengthened to the south to 
receive the structure. I am indebted to the late 
Rensselaer .Schuyler for much information in regard 
to the neighborhood. 



•CRIP'S" HISTORiCAl, SOUVENIR Ol- SENECA FALLS. 



143 



1 lind a record in the luunty clerk's (iliicc in regard 
111 the purchase by Christopher Haldy on June 14. 
iSi I, of lot No. 5 of a sub-division of great lot No. .5. 
lien. Baldv, the landlord of the tavern was of Huge- 
iiot descent and came fr<ini Pennsylvania. His 
ilrinks and tavern mixtures, such as "flip" and the 
I'ennsvlvania drink "niathigulum " were widely 
known. His skill with the toddy stick and the red 
hot iron logerhead was of something more than local 
renown. He acquired consider;! lile property but on 
the 14th of Jan. 1820 it was sold at forclosure sale. 
Nothing now remains but the old well that was in 
front of his tavern on the village green. It would 1«* 
a hne thing if funds could be placed in the hands nf 
the Bridgeport inipro\ement society so that the well 
could be cleaned up arui equipped as it formerlv was 
with an old fashioned well swee|). 

The old building purchased by the Cayuga Bridge 
Co. was htted up into a toll and dwelling house. 
Its construction was of the early style of carpentry, 
known as fit and try. .-\ tree was cut down trimmed 
of its limbs and squared with a broad axe. A hole 
was cut in it to receive another timber which was 
1 ut away until it htted the hole. In construction 
■^uch a quantity of timber was used as in modern 
times would be considered a prodigal waste of lum- 
ber. The sills in the old toll house are of solid oak 
fourteen inches square. The plates such as are now 
made 4x4 are in this house several times that size. 
I'he siding none of which is less than a foot wide 
.ind a great deal of which is more than two feet wide 
was split with wedges, and as a consequence some of 
the boards are in one place one-half inch thick and 
HI other places an inch and a half thick. 

In the closing up of the affairs of the Bridge Co. in 
I1S36 the building and premises were Ixiught by the 
last toll collector, William Marsh who used it as a 
residence until i8hi when he sold it. .After passing 
through the hands of a number of owners it was pur- 
chased by myself, about twelve years ago. 1 fitted it 
up and am using it as a summer residence. 

Treaty of 1795; I'inally Stripping the Cayugas 
'f all their Lands.— The treaty of 1795 released the 
lialance of the lands now occupied by the village of 
Seneca Falls to the State of New York. Six years 
had elapsed since the treaty of 1789, which had 
released to us the lands contained in the other three 
wards (the hrst, second and third) and conditions had 
tuateriallv changed. .At the time of the first named 
treaty there were few settlers in this vicinity. The 
few that had made a clearing or traded with the 
Indians, or engaged in other pursuits, owned no land 
as it still belonged to the Cayuga or Seneca tribes of 
the Six Nations. Since that time, however, the lands 
alreadv obtained from the Indians had been surveved 
into a part of "The Militar\' Tract." Immigration 
had set in and the actual settlement of our com- 
munity had begun. Lands had been cleared, log 
cabins erected, and the previous year, 1794, the hrst 
frame building had been erected on our present Fall 
street by Lawrence \'an Cleef. Nor was settlement 
confined to land already ceded by the Indians. By 
means of agreement with the Indians and temporary 
leases, quite a number of white people had made 
their homes upon the lands of the east and west Cay- 
uga reservations which, by the terms of the former 
treatv were to be retained for their own use and 
cultivation. .Among others was James Bennett, the 
ferryman, who lived on the shore of the lake just 
beyond the southeast bounds of our village. .Another 
had a cabin just beneath the knoll on the bank of 
the Seneca river just below where the old Chamber- 
lain homestead residence still stands, on the north 
side and west end of Seneca street. The man who 
occupied this cabin was George Bailey. We know 
ih.it he was the stepfather of James Bennett. We 
know that he was Commissioner of Highways in the 



latter part of 1796, We know that in 1793 Dr. 
.Alexander Coventry, the first physiiian to locate in 
this county, stayed over night at his house and at 
that time he was squaring up logs to build a foot 
bridge across the river at that point. That com- 
prises our knowledge of the man who must have been 
the first settler in the fourth w-ard. 

There were a number of other characters who came 
along and squatted upon the lands of the red man, 
who were not at all desirable. There were squatters 
who came in and took forcible possession, blazed a 
square of trees, built a shack or lean to, and settled 
down. .Among them were tiesperadoes and outcasts 
in all degrees of crime. 

This clause occurs in the treaty of 1789: "The 
|3eople of the State of New York may in such man- 
ner as they shall deem proper prevent any persons 
except the Cayugas, from residing or settling on the 
lands so to be held by the Cayugas and their pos- 
terity for their own use and cultivatiim, and if any 
person shall, without the consent of the people of the 
State of New A'ork, come to settle on said laiuis, the 
Cayugas shall give notice of such intrusion to the 
Governor of the State for the time being." And fur- 
ther, "The Cavugas and their posterity forever shall 
at the request of the Governor of the said State be 
aiding to the people of the State of New A'ork in 
removing all such intruders and apprehending, not 
onlv all such intruders, but also all felons and other 
offenders who mav happen to be on the said ceded 
lands, to the end that such intruders, felons, and 
other offenders may be brought to justice." 

Under the terms of the abt.is-e clause the Governor 
was obliged on two occasions to call out a sheriff's 
posse to rid the Cavuga reservations of these unde- 
sirable acquisitions. Notwithstanding this it was 
hard to keep out the horde that hung like leeches 
around the Indians and their lands in the Cayuga 
Reser\"ation. 

.After the treatv and the lands had been surveyed 
into lots by those who patented the different plots, 
many of ttiem had a similar trouble. I will cite an 
instance; Lot No. 10 was patented by Daniel I.arza- 
lere in the west Cayuga reservation. Upon taking 
possession of it he found that it was already occupied 
by a squatter who had felled a square of trees, built 
a cabin and refused to be dispossessed. It was 
thought best to settle [leaceably with him, and he 
was paid fifty dollars for his improvements and for 
vacating the premises. 

Ihe treatv of 1795 was held at the Cayuga Ferry 
and the Cayugas released all lands they had retained 
in previous treaties except the Cayuga reservation of 
one mile square on the west shore of the lake. Also 
a certain tract of land two miles square on the east 
shore of the lake, known as the Residence fjeserva- 
tion, and the .Mine Reservation, a little back from the 
lake as well as "the mine within the same if any 
there be. ' 

New A'ork succeeded a few years later in getting the 
Caj-ugas to release even these two small reservations 
which completely stripped the Cayugas of all their 
lands. The lands thus acquired were surveyed into 
lots by John Cantine and Joseph .\nnon, of about 
230 acres each. Lot No. h, now comprising the 
fourth ward of Seneca Falls, w,is patented by .Stephen 
N. Bavard which gave the Bayard Co. control of all 
the water power on both sides of the river. 

.All titles and searches to real estate go back to the 
subdivision of these great lots formerly a part of the 
Cayuga Reservation tract. For instance, lot No. 10, 
above referred to, came down by inherit;ince from 
father to son until quite recently it came into the 
possession of Hon. Israel A'. Larzalere, who, owning 
sufficient other land, sold it. In order to give a 
search of the property he was obliged to go to the 
original patent on file in the archives at Albany as 
there are no records of transfers in the county clerk's 
offices. — Fi;kii Tet.t.f.h. 



APR 1 2 1904 



1+4 



■'GIJIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF SENECA FALLS. 



SENECA FALLS BUSINESS. Id04 

.\ttornev.s — C .-V i*t \VSMacDon.^ld; CharlesCJolin- 
siin; Hammond iS; Hammond; Hawlev & Carmer; 
Gilbert & \V M Wikoxen; George \V Pontius; O A 
Coons; F W De Mott; Ernest Gould: R G Miller; 
Daniel Moran; Samuel H. Salisbury. 

Basks — E.vchange National; State; Savings. 

BiCYCi.ES — E C Davis & Co; J WfMcGarvey; M K 
I.ynd. 

Boots & Shoes — Vosburg <^ Corey; F W Addison; 
Miles Fitzsimmons; John M Walport, Orestes Roffo, 
Antinio Forzato and Frank Fitzsimmons cobblers. 

Bees — John Suiter. 

B.\KERS & Co.NFECTioNEKS — Wm M Cirone; Ferd 
Isenman; George Norton; John Humphrey; N Poolos. 

Barbers — G C Adkinson; Nicholas Durnin; Peter 
Gerritv: Fred Hpbel; Wm Lotz; F J Mackin; J G 
McKeon; T H O'Connor; W A Richards; Patrick 
White. 

Blacksmiths — Wm O .Arnold; Bradley Bros; S A 
Kellogg; .\ndre\v Mattison; Brady Bms; Thomas 
Moonan; W W Williamson. 

Baggage — Owen Burns; J B Johnston. 

Bottling -Michael McDermott: James .Anglim. 

Clothing — Clary Bros; W P Campbell; Myers 
Tadtman. 

Coal tS; Limber— John H O'Brien; S S Palmer; R 
W Yawger; G R Stearns; F Maier; .\ P Haney. 

Contractors — A F & P .A Stahl; Charles MclNevitt; 
Bernard McKevitt; ( jWBarlow; CharlesSmith; Gilbert 
Follett; Morehouse & Son- J Flickinger; B F Peck. 

Cigar Mfrs — Frank Bauer; H H Jones; .A E Gra- 
ham. 

Cream & Milk — James Souhan; Patrick Mansell; 
L F Compson; Elizabeth \'an Dyne; H Demun; L 
Markle: Fitch Williamson; M Johnson; Josiah Thorpe; 
Wm Youngs; Wm Lane; D Boardman. 

Cafes — G R Moore; E McConnell; Neal Doyle 
George McCue; Geo Salcman; Wm H Adkinson. 

Carpet Cleaning — John H Winters. 

Drugs— G B Davis; P Van Kleck; T B Sharp <S: 
Sons; M R Casey. 

Dry Goods— J H Anderson; T B Baird; L S Hos- 
kins; W B Lathrop & Son; Stephen Monroe: .\ M 
Feltus. 

Dentists— H S Waldorf; J H Sahler; F F Horton; 
Willard Hosier. 

Express — .American. J .\ .Ameut, agt; United States, 
G Russell, agt. 

I-'cRNiTfRE — Fred Teller; F J Ryan; C H Powers. 

Florists — DH RuthraufF; WmPowell; EWHudson. 

Flour Mills — Roberts tv Briggs; Yawger Co; P 
H Smith. 

Furrier — Mrs .A 1. Gale. 

Grocers — Clark I'ros; C W Brown; Carraher 
Bros: O'Niel, Wilkinson & .McCarthy; J H & G B 
Crowell; Elizabeth Ferran: W E Kennedv: E J Leon- 
ard: Thomas MagiU; A M Shepard; P H Murray; C 
L Story; C H Papworth; M Nearpass; Owen Mc- 
Guire; John McKeon; Thomas Smith; Fred Ward; 
Michael Eck; W F Walter; Norman Beach. 

Gentlemen's Goods — AGKenyon; Heald& Forbes. 

Hardware — [ames McKeon; Storv & Strong; G .A 
Waller: W J Dillon. 

Harness — Enos & Whitnev; E F Simmons. 

Hotels — Hoag: Stanton; Hanlin; Franklin;Seneca. 

Insurance or Real Estate — Charles W Combs; 
M Burroughs; A S & J S Gav: | T Miller & Co; J P 
Ciaynor; T M McGovern: Sidiiey WSmith; A S Pollard. 
Ice Men — John Hanlin: Cieorge \"reeland. 



Jewelers — Williams & Son: H S Palmer; H W 
Radder; H R Sellick. 

Lighting — Seneca Edson Co, F C Bloodgood, Mgr. 

Ladies' Goods — .Mrs E M Cox-Fralich: Bee Hive; 
Mrs I'" M Shayler. 

Ladies' Hair Dressing — .Mrs W H Scollin. 

Livery — D M Kellogg; Stanton House; George 
Sullivan. 

Laundry — Citv Steam: Seneca Falls. 

LiguoR Stores — D .A O'Keefe; Thomas Carroll. 

.Manufacturers — Goulds Mfg Co. pumps; Rumsey 
& Co L't'd, pumps; .American Fire Engine Co, Ro- 
tary Steam fire engines: Seneca Woolen .Mills, woolen 
cloths; Clima.N Specialty Co, specialties: Westcott- 
Jewell Co. rulers: Gleason, Bailey & Sciple Co,httings: 
Seneca Falls Mfg Co, machinery; H \V Knight & Son 
and A W Brim, metalic letters; Lowe Mfg Co, plat- 
ing; E S IngersoU & Son, paper; D Boardman, wood- 
work; National Advertising Co, advertising special- 
ties; Waldorf Mfg Co, skirts. 

Millinery — Miss Moran; M .A Flannigan; N M 
Jennings; Harriet Slauson. 

Markets— W H Arnold; De Arcy Burritt: J Cud- 
deback; F C Fisher: J Fisher: George & Co; Wm 
Sickford; G W Ward; W J Peck. 

Monuments — W & J Littlejohn Granite Co. 

Osteopath — D O Blackburn. 

Optician — A W Golder: Williams & Son. 

Oil — James Lacey; Francis Lynn. 

Photographers — G I Pruden; Bush & Plain. 

Physicians— R B Covert: Wm .M Follett; Elias & 
F W Lester: J E Medden; .Adolph l.etellier: J S 
Purdv; F M Severson; C .Anna J Brown; F H Schoon- 
maker. 

Pension Agts — S Weatherlow; John \'an Ciorder. 

Printers — Courier-Journal Co: Reveille: Alver 
Parmelee. 

F'lANos- Miss .Anna K Smith; Mrs S. Beck; Mr. 
Crandall. 

Painters — Curtis Paint Co; George Shandlev; E 
Cook; W W Smith; Gus Smith; D D Gibbs; C Evans; 
W \'an Dyne; Lucius Waldo; Wm Smith; J Kelley. 

Pool and Billiards — John F McKeon; W N Pres- 
ton: Fred Young. 

Stationery— G F Clark; W FHull: R'C Wayne. 

Stenographers & Typewriters — Fannie .Amidon' 
Kate P .Arundell: Elsie .Armstrong; Edith V .Avery; 
.Alice Bocker; Lula B Cone; Lillian A Cruise; Jennie 
Fisher; Edna Hall; Mabel Henion; Jessie E Hopkins; 
M W Jacobv; Mary C Kirk; Jessie Kline: Emma 
.Maier; Teresa E .McBride; Ella Norton; Anna L 
O'Connell; Florence Parmelee; Katherine Sullivan: 
Loren Strong; Belle Teller: Ora \'reeland;'jJ"May 
A'oung. 

Tailors — T A Jennings: Fred Hock; A Goodman; 
Horace Safely. 

Telegraph — Western I'nion, Cora .A Curtis, Mgr; 
Postal. G F Reilly, Mgr. 

Teamsters — Wm Burns; E Brobst; P Reily; P 
O Rourke; James Rourke; George MacDougall; Wm 
Woods; Stephen Woods; Hugh Gilmore; George Sul- 
livan: Hugh McKeon; F.Anderson;\VmMalone;Charles 
Harris; Thomas Kennedy; Henry Singer: .A Freeland; 
Egbert Watson: Clavton Maxson; Joseph Dyson; 
James McKeon. 

Upholsterer — John W. Swaisland. 

Undertakers — Chas S Sanderson; Chas S Fegley. 

\ariety Store — Fred '■"enn: Wm ^'anderhoof; 
Stowell; A S Hughes. 

\'eterinarian — J B Hill. 



MRS. A. U. GALE AlISS AININA K. SMITH 



Fur ("wuments made and rep.aired. 

Orders taken for Fur Dyeing and Blending. 

Skinner Satin for sale. 

B S '07 



